Missing Elwood Woman Found: Police

ELWOOD, IL — A woman from Elwood who was considered missing and endangered Wednesday morning was found unharmed, police confirmed just before 1 p.m.

WJOL reported that the woman, 50, was found "sitting on a log in the woods near Jackson Creek and Brandon Road" and was "conscious and alert" and being taken to Silver Cross Hospital. The outlet added, "Kudos to Bolingbrook Officer Mary Kendall and K9 Ava who found the victim with the assistance of New Lenox Fire Protection District bloodhound, Elwood Police K9 Tibb, Cook County K9."

Elwood Police Chief Fred Hayes told Joliet Patch Wednesday morning that more than 100 people were out searching the community in hopes of finding the woman. He said her family discovered her missing from their home at around 5 a.m.

Hayes said that his agency took the missing person's report and made finding her its top priority. He said she was last seen in her living room, and that her family has been unable to find her. Anyone who spotted her was asked to call 911.

Hayes said the woman and her family recently moved to Elwood from Chicago.

"We are conducting a ground search, using drones, bloodhounds and canines," Hayes said Wednesday morning. "She has been in poor physical condition. She's had some physical episodes, and they don't believe she could get far."

Hayes said the main search area was focused on the Meadowbrook subdivision between Brandon Road and Manhattan Road. He said the search was complicated by the fact that there are lots of wooded areas. There are also the Union Pacific railroad tracks in the area as well as Jackson Township Creek, the chief said.

"We are using every resource available to us," Hayes emphasized. "We have over 100 personnel on the ground."

Wednesday afternoon, the Village of Elwood issued their thanks to all first responders, including Elwood police and fire and the Will County Emergency Management Agency.