An 84-year-old woman found dead inside a West Morgan Park home last Thursday did not die of natural causes after all. Her death has now been ruled a homicide, shifting what first looked like a medical emergency into an active criminal investigation.
The woman was discovered unresponsive in a home in the 11000 block of South Washtenaw Avenue and was pronounced dead at the scene. Authorities initially described the circumstances as appearing consistent with a natural death, but that assessment changed after a closer look by examiners.
Examiner’s findings
According to CBS News Chicago, the Cook County Medical Examiner’s Office identified the victim as 84-year-old Benilda Ruiz. An autopsy determined that Ruiz suffered “multiple injuries due to assault,” which led the office to classify the manner of death as homicide.
CBS News Chicago reports the outlet contacted the Chicago Police Department seeking further details about the case but had not received a response as of the latest update. There have been no public reports of any arrests connected to Ruiz’s death.
What the medical examiner’s ruling means
Per the Cook County Medical Examiner’s Office, ruling a death a homicide reflects the findings of an autopsy and related testing. It describes how the death occurred from a medical and forensic standpoint and does not, by itself, assign criminal blame or determine who, if anyone, is legally responsible…