Missing woman found dead in Midlothian forest preserve

Authorities are working to determine the cause of death of a 22-year-old Harvey woman whose body was found at a south suburban forest preserve, where she went missing two days earlier.

The body of Vanessa Ceja-Ramirez was found 1:30 p.m. Wednesday at the Midlothian Meadows Forest Preserve, 15300 S. Crawford Ave., according to the Cook County medical examiner’s office.

She went missing Nov. 2 after walking in the forest preserve with her mother and a friend, according to Midlothian police and the Missing Persons Awareness Network. She decided to turn back to the car mid-walk, and couldn’t be located or contacted afterward.

Ceja-Ramirez’s autopsy results are expected to be released later Thursday.

The Cook County sheriff’s office said it’s conducting a death investigation.