Crime & Safety
Cook County, IL: Missing Girl Found in Woods After Phone Dies
COOK COUNTY, IL – A missing juvenile girl was safely located in a Cook County forest preserve after her cellphone battery died, leaving her lost in a wooded area until a sheriff's helicopter crew spot
By Evan Cross · 2026-10-09T23:24:25.718Z
COOK COUNTY, IL – A missing juvenile girl was safely located in a Cook County forest preserve after her cellphone battery died, leaving her lost in a wooded area until a sheriff's helicopter crew spotted her from above.
According to the Cook County Sheriff's Office, its Charlie 1 aviation unit recently assisted the Cook County Forest Preserve Police Department in locating the girl inside Red Gate Woods Forest Preserve, southwest of Chicago.
Authorities said the juvenile became lost in the wooded preserve, and her phone battery eventually died, complicating efforts to determine her location.
With limited information available, the sheriff's aviation crew used the girl's last known location data to narrow the search area.
The helicopter's onboard cameras allowed the crew to scan the surrounding woods and identify potential landmarks that could help locate the missing girl.
During the aerial search, deputies identified a lake with an island and spotted the juvenile waving for assistance.
The aviation crew then directed officers on the ground toward her location, allowing them to safely escort the girl out of the forest preserve.
The sheriff's office confirmed that she was located and safe following the coordinated search.
Red Gate Woods is part of the Cook County forest preserve system, which includes extensive wooded areas, trails and natural habitats in the southwestern Chicago suburbs.
The incident highlights how quickly a routine outdoor visit can become a search and rescue situation when someone becomes disoriented and loses cellphone access.
Authorities did not specify how long the juvenile had been missing or whether she required medical attention following the rescue.
The sheriff's office praised the quick work of its aviation personnel and the responding ground units for bringing the search to a successful conclusion.
No additional injuries or emergencies were reported in the department's announcement.