In early March of 2018, concerns grew for 54-year-old Tracie A. Bell, a resident of Richton Park, Illinois, when she uncharacteristically failed to appear for her job. Bell was a dependable secretary for the Cook County State Attorney's Office, working at the Leighton Criminal Court Building, and it was highly unusual for her not to call if she was going to be absent.
When she didn't show up for work on March 5, her employer requested that authorities perform a wellness check at her condominium on Pleasant Drive. On March 6, police made contact with Bell at her home. During this welfare check, she was found to be physically unharmed but seemed disoriented.
Given her state and known health issues, the responding officers called for paramedics to assess her. Bell had several medical conditions, including insulin-dependent diabetes and rheumatoid arthritis, which required weekly injections. She had also been recovering from a recent bout of pneumonia. The paramedics checked her blood sugar levels, and throughout the interaction, Bell was cooperative and appeared to be in a stable state of mind when they departed. This would be the last time she was officially seen. The next day, March 7, when she again did not report to her job, police returned to her home for another welfare check, but Tracie Bell was gone.
The investigation into Tracie Bell's disappearance began, but clues were scarce. Her vehicle was found parked outside her condo, suggesting she had not driven off. The only item noted to be missing from her residence was her cell phone. Searches of her financial records and phone activity yielded nothing; there had been no use of her credit cards, bank accounts, or cell phone since she was last seen. Authorities stated there was no evidence of foul play, with the circumstances suggesting she may have just walked away. However, this theory did not sit well with her family, who do not believe she would have left on her own accord. Among her personal belongings that have not been located is a distinctive set of stackable sterling silver rings with semiprecious stones that she was known to wear routinely. Years have passed without any answers, and Tracie Bell's case remains an unsolved and active missing persons investigation.Last Seen: Mar 6, 2018
