Police search for Illinois mother of 6, Iraq war veteran reported missing
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Illinois police are asking for the public’s help in finding a 31-year-old mother of six and Iraq War veteran who disappeared from her home more than a week ago.
Brenda Jackson was last seen in the “late evening hours” of Jan. 3 when a relative dropped her off at her home in Park Forest, just south of Chicago, according to authorities.
The Park Forest Police Department said Jackson – described as Hispanic, approximately 5 feet tall and 125 pounds – was reported missing two days later by her husband and mother after she failed to report to work on Jan. 4.
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The woman’s family told the veteran-run website Missing Veterans that Jackson -- whose youngest child is four months old -- is a U.S. Army veteran who served in Iraq.
On Sunday, friends and family of the missing woman searched a forest preserve in south suburban Park Forest for any clues in her disappearance, WLS-TV reported.
Jackson’s mother, Maria Gonzalez, told the station that it was uncharacteristic for Jackson to leave her family without telling anyone.
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"She gave 100 percent to everybody. She loves her children. This is not like her," Gonzalez told the station.
"We said, 'Goodbye. I love you honey. I will see you tomorrow,'" added her father, Joel Gonzalez.
Police said Jackson has a scar on her upper chest and star tattoos on both sides of her neck. She also has a heart tattooed on her ring finger and a tattoo that says “Michael” on her left inner wrist. She is not known to have left in any particular vehicle, authorities said.
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Anyone with information on her whereabouts is urged to call the Park Forest Police Department Investigations Division at 708-748-1309.
FoxNews.com’s Cristina Corbin contributed to this report.