On January 25, 2018, a 37-year-old woman named Denita Hedden vanished from Royal Lakes, Illinois, leaving behind a life that included four children. That day, which was also her birthday, she had been at the Ameristar Casino in St. Charles, Missouri. She was last seen late that evening in Royal Lakes, in the 700 block of Catalpa. When she disappeared, she was wearing a distinctive maroon and orange Nike brand Virginia Tech hooded sweatshirt, blue jeans, and high brown women's boots. She is described as a Caucasian female, 5'0" tall and weighing approximately 110 pounds, with brown hair and brown eyes. A notable feature is a tattoo on her stomach of a woman's upper torso with crossed arms and "spikey" hair.
The circumstances surrounding Denita's disappearance quickly led investigators to suspect foul play. Her roommate was the one to report her missing. The Major Case Squad of Greater St. Louis was brought in to assist the Macoupin County Sheriff's Office in the investigation. Authorities conducted extensive searches covering over 22,400 acres of rural terrain and 70 miles of roadway in southern Macoupin County. These efforts involved numerous police, fire, and specialized search teams, who dedicated hundreds of hours to combing through the area by land and air. Despite these exhaustive searches, Denita has not been located.
Early in the investigation, law enforcement identified a person of interest, though their identity has not been publicly released. The Macoupin County Sheriff's Department has stated their belief that she was murdered. Friends and family describe Denita as a kind and compassionate person who was a wonderful mother to her four children, who were between the ages of ten and seventeen at the time she went missing. The investigation into her disappearance has been transferred back to the Macoupin County Sheriff's Office and remains an active and open case. Law enforcement has urged property owners and residents in the area to remain vigilant and report anything unusual they might find on their property.
Last Seen: Jan 25, 2018
