Elk Grove police probing murder of 70-year-old

Police on Saturday were investigating the murder of a 70-year-old woman found dead in her Elk Grove Village home.

Marilyn M. Wood's death was ruled a homicide as a result of multiple injuries from an assault, the Cook County medical examiner's office reported Saturday after an autopsy was conducted.

Several Elk Grove detectives and officers with the Major Case Assistance Team mobile unit on Saturday continued to gather evidence inside Wood's home on White Trail, where Wood's body was found Friday after police did a well-being check. Wood's employer had called to say she had not shown up for work, officials said.

On Saturday, yellow police tape zigzagged across Wood's property as well as her neighbors' yards.

Neighbors described Wood as a quiet and religious woman who was the mother of two adult sons, one of whom lived with her until about a month ago.

They said they had seen local authorities at the Wood home frequently in recent years.

"There was always an uneasiness across the street, something you don't want to see," said Gerry Phipps, who lived across from Wood for about seven years.

"She pretty much kept to herself," said next-door neighbor Bob Kalish, who has known Wood for more than 30 years.

Kalish last saw Wood about a week ago when she was cutting her lawn.

A statement issued by Elk Grove police on Saturday said officers did a well-being check on Wood on Friday morning after her employer called to say she didn't report to work.

Police arrived at Wood's home and found her body in the basement. Police immediately began canvassing the area and talking with neighbors.

Elk Grove police released the statement confirming Wood's death and a homicide investigation, but did not release any further information on Saturday or return calls seeking information.

Late Friday night, Elk Grove police also were involved in a high-speed chase that ended in far north suburban Glencoe, where an assisting officer told spectators that a suspect in a homicide had been apprehended. Whether this incident is connected to Wood's death is still unclear.

Dozens of police squads and SUVs from Glencoe, the Cook County sheriff's office and Elk Grove Village swarmed Glencoe around 10:30 p.m. Friday.

Several officers then cornered a vehicle at a bluff near Glencoe Beach and shooed away spectators alarmed by the roaring engines of the squads, said eyewitness Chris Cohen, a Glencoe resident and a criminal defense lawyer in town.

"There were flashing lights after flashing lights from squads going down Sheridan Road near South Avenue," Cohen said. "I heard sirens coming from many other areas of town and heard their racing engines, which is highly unusual here."

Cohen was out walking his dog around 10:30 p.m. when he spotted the police chase. He then returned home, got in his car and followed the sounds of the sirens to the bluff near Glencoe Beach. There, he saw a damaged vehicle with its headlights still on and surrounded by police. No paramedics or ambulances were present.

Cohen said a police officer told spectators that they had apprehended a suspect in a homicide and ordered the crowd to disperse.

Glencoe police confirmed the chase but referred all calls to the Elk Grove Village police, who did not return calls.

<div class="infoBox"> <h1>More Coverage</h1> <div class="infoBoxContent"> <div class="infoArea"> <h2>Stories</h2> <ul class="links"> <li><a href="/story/?id=247392">Elk Grove police investigating suspicious death <span class="date">[10/31/08]</span></a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div>