An air of concern settled over Skokie, Illinois, when 82-year-old Tsering Wangyal, also known as Dolma, was reported missing. She was last seen on July 15, 2024, leaving her residence in the 9500 block of Bronx Place around 4:00 p.m. According to her family, Wangyal's husband was asleep when she left their home. She departed without her walker, phone, identification, or any money. Surveillance footage captured her leaving the building.
Wangyal was described as being 5-foot-1, weighing around 160 pounds, with silver hair, brown eyes, and glasses. At the time of her disappearance, she was wearing a dark-colored, long-sleeved shirt or cardigan, light-colored pants, and slippers or multi-colored Crocs.
The investigation into her disappearance revealed that Wangyal had been seen later in the day. A surveillance image showed her at the Levy Senior Center in Evanston around 6:00 p.m. on the same evening she went missing. Her daughter believed she was likely trying to get to a prayer meeting at the Tibetan Alliance of Chicago Community Center. It is thought that she may have boarded a CTA bus but possibly got off at the wrong stop. Her family mentioned she spoke Tibetan and some Hindu and English. The search for her was extensive, involving the Skokie Police Department, the Cook County K9 Group with bloodhounds, and numerous volunteers who scoured areas like the Harms Woods Forest Preserve. Heavy rain following her disappearance was a concern, as it may have washed away her scent, complicating the search efforts.
Regrettably, the search for Tsering Wangyal came to a sorrowful conclusion. In late November 2024, human remains were discovered in a heavily vegetated, wooded area in the 2300 block of Oakton Street in Evanston, near the Algonquin Woods and not far from the Levy Senior Center where she was last seen. The clothing and description of the deceased were consistent with what Wangyal was wearing when she disappeared. Authorities stated that no foul play was suspected. The Cook County Medical Examiner's Office worked to formally confirm the identity of the remains. This heartbreaking discovery ended months of uncertainty for her family and the community, bringing a close to the case of the deeply loved and respected elder from the local Tibetan community.Last Seen: Jul 15, 2024
