Search continues for missing Des Plaines woman
After scouring an Evanston neighborhood for clues into the disappearance of a 61-year-old Des Plaines woman, police on Tuesday continued to work the phones, fielding tips from the public and talking to family members, who haven't heard from their relative since Friday.
A search group of family and volunteers spent much of the day Monday posting missing person fliers around the area where Debra Fredricksen's car was found Saturday night. Evanston police say her car was found near Elliot Park, around the area of Dempster Street and the lakefront.
Des Plaines Police Cmdr. Randy Akin said the U.S. Coast Guard sent a boat and Chicago law enforcement authorities provided a helicopter to assist with the search during the initial stages of the investigation on Saturday night.
Authorities gleaned no additional information as a result of those searches, Akin said.
Police have also searched block-by-block throughout the nearby residential neighborhood, located east of Evanston's downtown. Akin said Fredricksen resided in that area in the early 1990s.
“All options are open at this point,” Akin said. “Water comes into play obviously. We've gone through alleys, and all throughout the residential area.”
Fredricksen's car was towed back to Des Plaines and is being held at the police department. Akin said police have thoroughly searched the contents of the car for clues — the best of which was a receipt that indicates Fredricksen went through a McDonald's drive-through in Morton Grove about noon on Friday.
The vehicle was in good condition, Akin said.
Fredricksen's husband contacted police Saturday about his wife's disappearance after several phone calls to her cellphone went unanswered. That cellphone was found in the car.
Akin said Fredricksen has no known medical condition and foul play is not suspected at this time.
Anyone with information is asked to contact police at (847) 207-4576.