BLOOMINGTON, IL – The Bloomington Police Department is investigating the death of Melissa Sue Ostrom, a 39-year-old woman from Bloomington, Illinois, who was reported missing on Monday, April 17, 2023.
After an extensive search of the area by the Bloomington Police Department, McLean County Sheriff’s Office, and the Illinois Emergency Management Agency (IEMA), Melissa’s body was located Thursday.
The McLean County Coroner’s Office was notified and identified the body as Melissa S. Ostrom. Melissa was pronounced deceased on the scene, and an autopsy is pending.
The investigation into the circumstances surrounding her death is ongoing, with the Bloomington Police Department and the McLean County Coroner’s Office leading the efforts.
Melissa was initially reported missing April 17, and the Bloomington Police Department had sought help from the public in locating her. Melissa was known to frequent Bloomington Normal and nearby small towns. She was described as a 39-year-old white female, 5’4″ tall, weighing 114 lbs, with purple hair and hazel eyes.
During the hours of her disappearance, Melissa was wearing black and white Nike tennis shoes, gray sweatpants, a black sweatshirt, and a red/white striped Baja hoody. Her movements during this time frame may have also been related to a dark gray 2017 Chevrolet Colorado pick-up truck with IL license 3228994B and/or a burgundy 2010 Chevrolet Camaro with IL license E207788.
The Bloomington Police Department is asking anyone with information about Melissa’s whereabouts during the hours of 1:45 a.m. on Monday, April 17th to 11 p.m. on Wednesday, April 19th, 2023, or anyone who may have seen Melissa and/or the mentioned vehicles during this time frame, to contact Detective P. Diaz at 309-434-2532 or pdiaz@cityblm.org. Anonymous tips can also be submitted to the Crime & Intelligence Analysis Unit (CIAU) at 309-434-2963, via Text to Tip at 847411, or by emailing CIAU@cityblm.org.
The community is urged to come forward with any information that may assist in the investigation and help bring closure to Melissa’s family and loved ones.
