49-Year-Old Homeless Woman Identified As Evanston Homicide Victim

EVANSTON, IL — The death of a homeless woman whose body was found in the alcove of an Evanston church is being investigated as a murder, police said. The woman was found unresponsive Monday afternoon at the First United Methodist Church at Church Street and Hinman Avenue, and police released her identity Wednesday afternoon.

Tanuel Major, 49, had no permanent address the night she was killed in the doorway of the downtown church, police said.

Major appeared to have been fatally bludgeoned at some point Sunday night, with signs of significant trauma to her head, according to Cmdr. Ryan Glew.

An autopsy Tuesday ruled her death a homicide caused by blunt force injuries to the head, according to the Cook County Medical Examiner's Office.

The homicide is being investigated by the North Regional Major Crimes Task Force. Investigators determined her identity Tuesday and released her name following notification of her family.

Northwestern University and Evanston police said the woman, who frequented Evanston, was not affiliated with the university. Police said Major's killing appears to have been an isolated incident with no ongoing danger to the public.

City and university departments recently announced increased patrols around the south end of campus in response to several recent incidents of woman being approached and grabbed from behind or otherwise harassed by one or two men in the area. Evanston had not recorded a homicide since a fatal shooting in February.

Anyone with information or evidence relevant to the investigation, including any security video from Sunday night that may have captured the events leading to the woman's death, was asked to contact the Evanston Police Department at 847-866-5040 or by texting CRIMES (274637) and entering EPDTIP and the tip in the message.

BREAKING: per @EvanstonPD Cmdr. Ryan Glew: EPD is conducting a death investigation. EPD responded shortly after 12pm to an unresponsive person at First United Methodist Church in Evanston. Found deceased person. Doesn't appear to be weather related, doing forensic investigation. pic.twitter.com/0ccVKxfF4Y
— Colin B Photography (@colinbphoto) November 19, 2018