Missing Woman's Phone Tracked To New Orleans: Minooka PD

MINOOKA, IL — Minooka police have issued an update in the case of a local woman missing for six days, saying 40-year-old Tina (Irving) Saunders' cell phone was last turned on in New Orleans on March 23. On Tuesday, police shared a timeline of their investigation into Saunders' disappearance starting a day before the Minooka woman went missing.

Saunders' father told police she was acting strangely "and making strange comments" during a visit to his home on March 20, according to Minooka Police Chief Justin Meyer.

Meyer said Channahon police arrested Saunders for trespassing at her ex-husband's home on Wednesday, March 21, the same day friends say she disappeared. Also on March 21, Morris police had contact with her at around 2 p.m. at her step-daughter's home — the last place she was seen, according to Meyer. Saunders, who is divorced and may go by her maiden name of Irving, also withdrew $300 from a bank account that day, police said.

The next night, March 22, at around 10:15 p.m., Saunders' father reported her missing to Minooka police.

Since her cell phone was last powered on in New Orleans on March 23, police said there has been no cell phone, social media, I-pass or financial activity from Saunders. Meyer said Minooka police have been in contact with hotels/motels and casinos in the area where Saunders' phone was last on in Louisiana, to no avail.

Information on Saunders has been entered into the Law Enforcement Data Sysmte and National Crime Information Center, Meyer said.

"At this point in the investigation, it is unclear what Tina's intentions are, but based on the information our agency received from her family regarding her mental condition, I would classify her as being vulnerable and it is important to locate her so she can get the treatment she needs," Meyer said.

A friend of Saunders who asked not to be named said Tina has brown hair, blue eyes and several distinctive tattoos on both arms, including one of a tree with the words "Que Sera Sera." Police said she is 5-foot-7 and 130 pounds and drives a gray 2014 Ford Escape with a small dent on the right side panel. The vehicle's license plate number is 343-4521.

"We just want to make sure she's alive and safe," a friend of Saunders told Patch on Monday.

Early Monday evening, Minooka police issued a statement about Saunders' disappearance indicating that she "recently displayed bizarre behavior and has history of mental illness."

Police said it's unknown what Saunders was wearing at the time of her disappearance.

Anyone who has seen Saunders or has information on her whereabouts should contact the Minooka Police Department at 815-467-2298between 8 am. and 4:30 p.m. weekdays or the 24-hour non-emergency line, 815-467-2161.

Images submitted to Patch and used with permission