Accident – Death – Obituary News :

Buried Identity: Chicago Police Uncover the Mysterious Life of “Seven”

Chicago, IL – At the outskirts of a Catholic cemetery in Chicago lies a grave marked by a simple cement cylinder and the numbers 04985. For years, the identity of the individual buried there remained unknown, until now. In an extraordinary investigation, the Cook County Sheriff’s Office specializing in missing persons and cold cases has uncovered the true identity of the deceased, known only as “Seven”. The discovery of Seven’s identity as Reba C. Bailey, a 75-year-old Illinois veteran missing since the 1970s, may not only bring closure to loved ones but also lead to changes in state law.

Reba Bailey, an elderly veteran who passed away in 2015, suffered from dementia and diabetes, unable to recall her own name or past. She had adopted the name Seven, yearning to be identified as a man. The Cook County medical examiner’s office conducted post-mortem fingerprint analysis, initially failing to find a match in police databases. Consequently, Seven was laid to rest in the section of Mount Olivet Catholic Cemetery designated for unidentified individuals.

Years later, the case of Seven Doe caught the attention of the Cook County Sheriff’s Office, renowned for its work on cold cases, including the identification of victims of serial killer John Wayne Gacy. However, Seven’s case presented an unprecedented challenge. A person who remained unidentified in both life and death posed a rare investigative situation.

“We had never encountered anything like this before,” remarked Sheriff Tom Dart. “This case was different and it kept becoming more and more unique.”

Through extensive fingerprint analysis and cross-referencing with military records, investigators finally found a match for Seven in the form of Reba Bailey. Reba had enlisted in the Army in 1961 and was honorably discharged in 1962 due to marriage. Although Reba’s five siblings had passed away, she had numerous nieces and nephews who had heard of her existence but never met her.

Rick Bailey, the son of Reba’s late brother Richard, expressed his disbelief upon receiving a call from investigators about his long-lost aunt. “My dad had searched for years to try and find his sister,” said Bailey, who believes Reba’s siblings would have celebrated the news had they been alive. “They would all be thrilled if they were here.”

While investigators have managed to piece together parts of Reba’s life, many questions still remain unanswered. Born in 1940 to a carpenter father who frequently relocated for work, tragedy struck Reba at the age of ten when she lost her mother in a car accident that also left her, her father, and her brother injured. Reba joined the military about a decade later, serving in Alabama, Texas, and California. Records indicate she was briefly married to a fellow veteran, John H. Bilberry, who passed away in 1989.

What transpired between her return from the military and her appearance at a Chicago worker house with no memory remains a mystery. Relatives have heard conflicting stories about a fight between Reba and her father, with some attributing it to her decision to join the military and others claiming it was related to her sexual orientation. The circumstances behind her memory loss, change in gender identity, and adoption of the name Seven also remain elusive.

Denise Plunkett, who discovered Seven on the porch of St. Francis Catholic Worker House in the late 1970s, recalled that Seven referred to themselves in the third person and identified as a man. When asked their name, Seven often responded with “Mr. Seven”. Plunkett praised Seven’s contributions to the house, particularly their skills as a cook that attracted large crowds.

After several decades at the worker house, Seven left in 2003 following a health scare. After collapsing in the hallway due to diabetic shock, Seven was moved to a nursing home for medical care. As Seven had no legal name or known family, Chicago police launched an investigation, but their efforts were fruitless. Ultimately, Seven became a ward of the state and passed away in 2015.

Relatives who have learned more about Reba’s later years have found solace in knowing that she was cared for. Amanda Ingram, who would have been Reba’s great niece, stated, “That is the best that my grandfather could have ever asked for.”

The Cook County investigators have updated the entry for Seven Doe in a federal database of missing persons, including Reba Bailey’s name and photo. Their next step is to provide a new gravestone and military honors in the spring. Additionally, the case has prompted the Cook County Sheriff’s Office to propose an amendment to the Missing Persons Identification Act in Illinois. The amendment would require postmortem fingerprints to be checked against all available state and federal databases, potentially expediting the identification process.

Family members have considered relocating Reba’s remains closer to their own, but the logistical and financial challenges have deterred them. “We decided as a family not to disturb her,” said Rick Bailey. “At least we know where she is now.”

With the discovery of Reba Bailey’s true identity, the case of Seven Doe has captivated the public and shed light on the struggles faced by homeless individuals without a past or memories. This unique investigation serves as a reminder that every person, regardless of their circumstances, deserves to be known and remembered by their name.

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