CHICAGO (WLS) — The Chicago Police Department has launched an investigation following the grim discovery of a woman’s body inside a trash can on Saturday evening in Englewood.
Officers responded to a scene in an alley situated near the intersection of Union Avenue and 54th Street, where they found the woman’s remains.
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While the authorities are yet to confirm the identity officially, the family of Zenobia Weatherspoon suspects it might be her, recognizing the clothing she was last seen wearing.
Zenobia’s mother revealed to ABC7 that her daughter disappeared nearly three weeks ago, leaving loved ones to search desperately but without success.
The tragic turn came on Saturday night when authorities retrieved a severely decomposed body from a trash can in an alley, located just a few blocks away from where Zenobia lived.
Cellphone video of the retrieval began to circulate on social media, and that is how her family says they found out she was dead.
“It’s heartbreaking. It’s really heartbreaking,” said Javon Weatherspoon, Zenobia’s brother.
Friends and family gathered at 54th and Peoria on Monday. They shared memories of the woman they knew as Zee.
“She the type of the person who would give you the shirt off her back, and that’s just the facts about Zee. Great person. We all loved her. We family,” said Jatara Leslie, Zenobia’s cousin.
Grief was mixed with anger on Monday night as Zenobia’s loved ones called for justice. A balloon release punctuated the vigil.
“She didn’t live a life for this to happen to her. It makes you scared of the neighborhood,” said Fatima McKay, Zenobia’s cousin. “We ask that no evidence goes unnoticed and that they treat this as if it was one of their daughters, their mothers, sisters, cousins. She was important to us… This family is going to make noise, and this is something that you will not get away with.”
The case has also sparked concern among residents and community activists.
“It’s just diabolical to me,” said Jasmine Smith of the Chicago Alliance Against Racism and Political Repression.
Troy Gaston of Black Lives Matter Chicago said news of the death prompted him to take action.
“To hear about this death right here just made me stop and come out here and try and find a way where we can see justice for her and her family,” Gaston said.
Smith called for accountability in the case.
“Who done this to this Black woman? Who done this?” Smith said. “She is somebody’s child. She’s somebody’s aunt. She’s somebody’s sister. Her life matters, and people need to understand that.”
Illinois state Sen. Lakesia Collins, who said she knows Weatherspoon, described the case as personal.
“It is very personal for me,” Collins said.
Collins said she is troubled by the death and by other unresolved cases involving missing or murdered women of color.
“This is one that I don’t understand at all, but there’s many Zenobias around this city around this state and all across this country, and I don’t want this case or any other case to unresolved,” Collins said.
As the investigation continues, Collins urged anyone with information or images related to the case to contact police.
Police are calling this a death investigation as they await the autopsy results not just to positively identify the remains, but also to determine cause of death.
Chicago police have not released additional details about the investigation.
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