Cook County authorities have announced a significant breakthrough in a four-year-old cold case, charging 30-year-old Dakota Petrey with the 2020 murder and sexual assault of Vanessa Ceja-Ramirez, a 22-year-old woman from Harvey, Illinois. Ceja-Ramirez’s body was discovered on November 4, 2020, in the Midlothian Meadows Forest Preserve, two days after she was reported missing. An autopsy revealed she had been strangled, sexually assaulted, and her body partially burned.
Sheriff Tom Dart detailed that the investigation involved extensive forensic analysis, including DNA evidence recovered from the crime scene, which ultimately linked Petrey to the heinous act. At the time of Ceja-Ramirez’s disappearance, Petrey resided in an Oak Forest apartment complex, notably the last location where the victim’s cellphone was traced. Authorities have found no evidence to suggest that Petrey and Ceja-Ramirez were acquainted.
Petrey was apprehended on January 18, 2025, immediately following his release from Fulton County Jail in Lewistown, Illinois, where he had been detained since October 7, 2024, on unrelated charges. He now faces charges of first-degree murder and aggravated criminal sexual assault.
The arrest brings a measure of closure to Ceja-Ramirez’s family and the community, who have been seeking justice since her tragic death. Community activist Andrew Holmes, who has been advocating for the family, expressed relief at the development, emphasizing the importance of continued community cooperation in solving such cases.
This case underscores the critical role of DNA evidence and inter-agency collaboration in resolving long-standing investigations. Sheriff Dart commended the relentless efforts of the detectives and forensic experts involved, stating that their dedication was instrumental in bringing the perpetrator to justice.
