Missing Illinois Nursing Student Found Dead

BOURBONNAIS, IL — A nursing student who disappeared on her way home from Olivet Nazarene University was found dead not far from where she vanished after a vehicle was found submerged in a pond early Thursday, police said Thursday. Sheila Khalili, 27, disappeared in the early hours of Friday, May 5, on her way to her family's home in Schaumburg. Bourbonnais Police Chief Jim Phelps said Khalili's body was found in a construction pond early Thursday along I-57 between Bourbonnais and Manteno, the Kankakee Daily Journal reported.

Police said an initial investigation indicates Khalili was the victim of a fatal traffic accident.

Divers were reportedly called after a vehicle was spotted in a construction pond during an aerial search along the highway on Wednesday. The car, containing Khalili's body, was pulled from the pond at around 9 a.m.

The discovery came a day after frantic relatives pleaded for information that would bring Khalili home, offering a $20,000 reward. An attorney for the close-knit family said it was unheard of for Sheila to be out of contact with relatives for long, saying, "It's as if she was yanked off the face of the earth."

• Missing Nursing Student: 'It's As If She Was Yanked Off The Face Of The Earth'

Khalili was last known to be in the Bourbonnais area at around 2 a.m. Friday, but since then, family said there was no activity on her cell phone, credit cards or the I-PASS on her 2016 Toyota Corolla. In a statement, Olivet Nazarene University said Khalili had checked out of her residence hall and left campus for the summer early Friday.

Divers began searching the pond at around 4 a.m. Wednesday, and a license plate, bumper and mirror from a vehicle similar to Khalili's were found nearby, WGN reported.

No work has taken place on the I-57 construction site for a couple of weeks, the Daily Journal reported.

Olivet reacted to Khalili's death Thursday morning, offering condolences to her loved ones.

"The University learned this morning from the family and local authorities that Sheila’s car was found just north of Bourbonnais and that Sheila was in the car, having passed away," the university said in a statement. "The University community is shocked and deeply saddened by this news. Our hearts go out to the family. The ONU family is surrounding Sheila’s family, friends and Sheila’s nursing faculty with our thoughts and prayers. We grieve the loss of such a bright young student whose warm heart and passion for serving others was so evident in her life. We are continuing to pray for her family and friends."

Image via Bourbonnais Police Department