Missing woman's body found in Gurnee field
A missing 91-year-old Westmont woman, who family members say suffered occasional bouts of confusion, was found dead in her car in a wooded area in Gurnee, police said Thursday.
The car was spotted by motorists about 50 yards off Route 41, police Cmdr. Jay Patrick said. Isadora Budasi's body was found inside the gold 1995 Buick LeSabre at 10:20 a.m.
The car had failed to negotiate a turn, jumped the curb, and continued into the wooded area, police said. Airbags deployed, but Patrick said there was no indication the woman was injured in the crash.
"She struck some trees and some brush before coming to a stop, but there were no signs of trauma from the accident," he said. "My personal belief is she was lost and didn't know where she was."
Westmont is about 50 miles south of Gurnee.
There was no sign of foul play at the accident site or at the woman's apartment, police said.
Westmont Police Chief James Ramey said Budasi failed to return home March 8 after a hair appointment in Willowbrook.
Her family filed a missing person report Monday, he added.
"We are sorry that our extensive efforts to locate and return Mrs. Budasi to her home safely were not successful," he said. "The Westmont Police Department extends our condolences to the friends and family of Ms. Budasi."
Lake County Coroner Richard Keller said an autopsy will be performed today to determine the cause of death.
"We aren't exactly sure what she was doing up here," Keller said. "She had been previously diagnosed with dementia, so we think she may have become lost."
Keller said Budasi had been in the wooded area for about three or four days before being found Thursday.
Jeff Verdone said his great-aunt was occasionally confused but did not suffer from dementia. She had no restrictions in her living arrangements or driving, he added.
"She was more of a grandmother to me than my own grandmother," Verdone said. "She was just a lovely, kind and caring woman who always acted 10 years younger than she appeared."