Dec 26, 2006 7:23 pm US/Central
Woman's Body Found In West Suburban House
Police: Lauren Kiefer Died From Blunt Force Trauma
by Mike Puccinelli
UNINCORPORATED OAKBROOK TERRACE, Ill. (CBS) ―
Investigators today are trying to figure out the story behind the body of a woman who was found murdered on Christmas Day in unincorporated DuPagge County near Oakbrook Terrace.
As CBS 2 West Suburban Bureau Chief Mike Punccinelli reports, the body of 24-year-old Lauren Kiefer was found in her house.
A tearful loved one placed flowers outside the home Tuesday. The 24-year-old was found murdered on Christmas night.
"It's terrible. I mean it's a travesty," said one neighbor.
It was a travesty that claimed the life of a young woman who neighbors say may have returned home to find a burglary in progress. Frank Buss lives next door to Kiefer and says he watched her grow into a beautiful fashion model.
"She was just a wonderful, gorgeous and gracious lady and her mother is just the same," Buss said.
And neighbors say it was Lauren's mother who found her daughter's battered body Monday night.
Lauren's body was taken to the medical examiners office for an autopsy. Detectives say preliminary indications are she died from blunt force trauma.
Detectives worked to gather evidence Tuesday from both inside and outside the house. A sports car was towed from the scene. Neighbors say it belonged to Kiefer.
Neighbors say the circumstances were frightening.
"It's scary, because I have kids, and I have a family, and I have a dog, and I have all the things," said Leo Congenie. "You move to an area, you feel you're safe, and you don't know if you're necessarily safe."
The local fire department is only feet away from the scene, and the police department is located just 1,000 feet down the street.
One place where she belonged was Glass Court Swim and Fitness in Lombard. The club's general manager says he will never forget her smile.
"You just can't say anything wrong about her. She was just a great person in general. It's a terrible, terrible loss," said general manager Dan Jaskier.
(© MMVI, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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