IL IL - Erica Thompson, 53, Brookfield, 25 Sep 2019 *endangered*

[Chappy]

Bump for Erica.
Over a year and very little public info.

 

[TatianaBarbie]

This is a lengthy article, published in September, about Erica's disappearance. It is hard to believe that neither Erica, nor her distinctive car have been found.

A year later, no word on missing Brookfielder

". . .The police investigation so far has involved a number of agencies, including two suburban task forces and the FBI, which helped track cellphone data. The FBI's contribution led Brookfield police to hire an organization to help them search waterways in the vicinity of where her phone traveled early on Sept. 26, 2019.

Using a sonar-equipped boat, police searched shipping canals trying to find vehicles matching the dimensions of Thompson's Nissan Juke. Only one of the dozen vehicles they found submerged in those waterways fit the dimensions of Thompson's car, but a diver sent down to investigate confirmed it was not hers.

Brookfield Police Chief Edward Petrak said last week that Brookfield detectives have sought the assistance of police "in other jurisdictions," though he declined to specify where exactly.

'From the beginning this was a case of a missing person with suspicious circumstances," Petrak said. "We've handled it almost as if it was a homicide case. We're still hopeful we can find her, and we're going to keep working at this until the case is solved.' . . ."
​

There is more to read about how Erica's disappearance has affected Erica's son and Erica's sister. It details the financial difficulties, and court proceedings. There are also photos of Erica's son and her sister.

I felt very sad reading that LE has treated Erica's disappearance almost as a homicide from the beginning. I hope Erica can be found, and brought home to her family, and that whoever caused Erica's death is held responsible.

 

[CastlesBurning]

Seven years of Dateline's Missing in America: 156 still missing

 

[imstilla.grandma]

Erica Thompson was last seen on September 25, 2019, at Veterans Memorial Circle in Brookfield, Illinois. Erica’s only son, Michael Russo, said that it was unlike his mother to not show up at work, or check in with her family. Erica was employed as a comptroller at Empire Hard Chrome Inc., in Chicago. On October 1, 2019, Michael went to check on his mother, and he found the back door of her home open with the air conditioning “running at full blast.” He said there were moldy dishes in the sink and cat vomit was everywhere. Erica’s vehicle was also missing. It’s a dark purple 2014 Nissan Juke with Illinois license plate #E27 3380. Her son added that while it appears purple in the sun, the SUV normally looks faded black or brown on the road. Erica was last seen on security video on September 25, 2019, driving the Nissan near Veterans Memorial Circle in Brookfield. She is considered by police to be an “endangered” missing person. Investigators were able to ping Erica’s phone and discovered that it had traveled through several nearby communities, and as far as Missouri, early on September 26. Police said they knocked on every door in the area surrounding where Erica was last seen, checked video footage and utilized several police K-9s. Family and friends gathered at Veterans Memorial Circle and handed out missing person fliers. The Brookfield Police Department released a statement, “We are committed to providing every resource available to locating Ms. Erica Thompson. We sincerely hope that she is okay and appreciate the help and support of the residents of Brookfield, the general public, and cooperatives like Crime Stoppers in aiding us in our efforts to solve this missing persons case." Erica is described as 5’6”, 130 pounds, with blue eyes and auburn hair that is sometimes dyed. She has tattoos of fairies on her hip and a small blue heart on her foot. Cook County Crime Stoppers is offering up to a $1,000 cash reward for information that results in locating Erica. Call the anonymous tip line at 1-800-535-STOP. Anyone with information about Erica Thompson’s whereabouts is encouraged to contact the Brookfield Police at 708-244-4862 or email mcat@mcatpolice.org.

Seven years of Dateline's Missing in America: 156 still missing

 

[Kali_9]

bump for Erica

 

[GraceG]

I live in Brookfield (started this thread). There's been nothing at all new locally though several businesses still have her missing poster up. House appears vacant but the outside is well maintained. So sad to see this.

 

[oceanverde]

Can't believe there's been no news.

 

[GraceG]

Can't believe there's been no news.

I was out for a walk this weekend and saw the for sale sign on her house was gone - the listing showed it had sold. Has to be hard on the family, realizing it's not likely she will come home. There's been no news in Chicago and no "talk on the street" in the Village as to any updates for her.

 

[Chappy]

Bump for Erica. Crazy, there’s been no info. The mysterious, “trucker boyfriend”. Did they ever find the car or cellphone ? So sad.

 

[GraceG]

I live in Brookfield. No news at all. Her house has sold. There's a lot of canals near here where a car could be dumped, likely not to be found.

 

[Chappy]

I work in that area. In the 80’s/90’s that area of canals/rivers was a hot bed for the mob.
Bodies / cars/ whatever. With all the podcasts out there, shocked, her mysterious disappearance hasn’t received more attention.

 

[Chappy]

Bump for Erica

 

[MrsWatson]

Erica L. Thompson – The Charley Project

 

[mlhenn]

Erica L. Thompson – The Charley Project

Erica L. Thompson

• 
• 
• 

Details of Disappearance
Thompson was last seen in Brookfield, Illinois at 4:30 p.m. on September 25, 2019, when a the security cameras at a bank in the Eight Corners business district captured footage of her making a deposit. The bank was close to her home in the 9200 block of Monroe Avenue. She missed work the next day and has never been heard from again. She lived with only her cats, and was not reported missing until October 1.

When police checked Thompson's home, they found the back door open and the air conditioning on. There were moldy dishes in the sink and next to Thompson's bed, and cat vomit in various places, which is uncharacteristic of Thompson; she normally kept her home tidy. The home had security cameras but recent footage had been erased.

Her cats were still there but her cellular phone, purse, Illinois driver's license and house and car keys were missing, as was her car, a 2014 Nissan Juke with the Illinois license plate number E273380. A photo of a similar vehicle is posted with this case summary. It is dark purple but may appear to be dark brown or black in color.

Investigators have evidence that indicates Thompson's vehicle was driven by someone other than herself in the cities of Brookfield, Decatur and Mount Vernon on September 26, the day after she was last seen. Her cellular phone pinged in Brookfield and in the cities of Countryside, Hodgkins, McCook, Forest View, Summit and Ridgeview in the early morning hours of September 26. On October 2, the phone was found in a roadside ditch in Springfield, Missouri, which is over a seven-hour drive southwest of Brookfield.

At the time of her disappearance, Thompson worked as a comptroller at Empire Hard Chrome Inc. in Chicago, Illinois. Her loved ones stated she has anxiety about driving long distances and prefers to stay close to home. Her hobbies include crocheting, gardening, genealogical research and computers. Her case remains unsolved.

 

[Hockeyfan158]

Tammy Zywicki vibes from this disappearance especially her phone being found in Missouri.

 

[Chappy]

Can’t believe how fast this case went cold. I hang out regularly in Brookfield and there’s never any talk of this case. Sad, frustrating and strange.

 

[Kimkimba]

It just seems that there’s more evidence out there.

What evidence does LE have that someone else drove her vehicle the day after she was last seen? A video with an unidentified person driving her car?

 

[Chappy]

Bump for Erica

 

[Chappy]

Bump for Erica

 

[Chappy]

Bump for Erica.