Authorities: Body Found In NW Ind. Is Calumet City Woman
CALUMET CITY (CBS) -- Authorities on Monday confirmed the body found in a wooded area near Lowell, Ind. over the weekend is that of missing Calumet woman Gena Chiodo, whose boyfriend had already been charged in her presumed death.
The identification was made using dental records, Lake County Coroner Merrilee D. Frey said.
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Chiodo's decomposed body exhibited signs of "external and internal traumatic injuries due to assault, including multiple stab wounds and blunt force injuries," she said in a written statement. Frey ruled the death a homicide.
"Once again, our sympathies go out to the Chiodo family," Calumet City Police Chief Edward Gilmore, accompanied by Frey, said at a news conference. "It has been a long time bringing this to closure, and I'm happy to say we were able to bring closure to that family."
Chiodo's body, wrapped in bedding, was discovered by hunters near Routes 41 and 2 on Sunday afternoon, and Lake County authorities immediately suspected it could be the 42-year-old Calumet City woman, who was reported missing Oct. 13. Calumet City police arrested her live-in boyfriend, Donol Clark, after they found a large quantity of blood -- but no body -- in the home the couple shared.
Clark is being held on charges of first-degree murder and concealment of a homicide.
The Calumet City Police Department had been following up on periodic tips about the whereabouts of Chiodo's body.
"It sounds really bizarre, but I wanted her home for Christmas," friend Pat Nasella told CBS 2's Brad Edwards outside the Calumet City Police Department. "I didn't get to talk to her, but we have her body. I mean, she's home. She's not laying out there in a field anywhere all by herself, all lonely."
Gilmore said Cook County State's Attorney Anita Alvarez was expected to hold a news conference Tuesday to update the media on the prosecution against Clark.
