“Unidentified Veteran Buried in Chicago Cemetery Finally Identified After 8 Years”

Accident – Death – Obituary News : Title: Cook County Sheriff’s Commander Jason Moran Uncovers Identity of Unclaimed Person, Reba C. Bailey

Introduction:
In a remarkable investigation, Cook County Sheriff’s Commander Jason Moran, who leads the sheriff’s missing persons initiative, has identified the true identity of an unclaimed individual buried in a Chicago cemetery. This breakthrough, involving the person known as Seven, who self-identified as a man, has shed light on the life of Reba C. Bailey, a Women’s Army Corps veteran who had been missing since the 1970s. The discovery has brought closure to Reba’s relatives and friends, and the case may also lead to changes in state law.

Uncovering the Mystery:
The story begins with the burial of an unidentified individual marked only by a cement cylinder bearing the numbers 04985 at Mount Olivet Catholic Cemetery in Chicago. The person passed away in 2015, suffering from heart disease, dementia, and diabetes. Despite efforts to identify the deceased, the authorities had no leads until Commander Jason Moran’s team took on the case eight years later.

A Breakthrough Investigation:
The investigators utilized post-mortem fingerprints and searched various databases, including military records, to find a match. Astonishingly, they discovered that the unidentified person, known as Seven, was actually Reba C. Bailey, a 75-year-old veteran who had gone missing in the 1970s. Reba had served in the Women’s Army Corps, and her military records confirmed her identity.

Revealing Reba’s Life:
Although Reba’s five siblings had all passed away, she had several nieces and nephews who had heard stories about their long-lost aunt. Rick Bailey, the son of Reba’s late brother Richard, was overwhelmed when he received the news of his aunt’s identification. He mentioned that his father had spent years searching for her and that the entire family would be thrilled to finally have closure.

Piecing Together Reba’s Story:
Investigators were able to uncover some details about Reba’s life. Born in 1940, she grew up in a large family with a carpenter father who frequently moved for work. Tragedy struck when Reba was just 10 years old, losing her mother in a car accident that also left her, her father, and her brother injured. Reba joined the military around a decade later and served in various states. She was briefly married to a fellow veteran, John H. Bilberry, before being honorably discharged in 1962.

Unanswered Questions:
Despite these revelations, many aspects of Reba’s life remain a mystery. It is unclear what happened to her after leaving the military and how she ended up at a Chicago worker house with no memory of her past. Family members have heard conflicting stories about a fight between Reba and her father, possibly related to her decision to join the military or her sexual orientation. Additionally, the reasons behind her memory loss and her decision to identify as Seven remain unknown.

The Legacy of Seven:
Denise Plunkett, who discovered Seven in the late 1970s at the St. Francis Catholic Worker House, described them as a compassionate individual who became the house cook and helped countless homeless people. Seven’s hearty meals attracted crowds, and their dedication to helping the homeless was widely recognized. After leaving the worker house in 2003 due to a health scare, Seven was moved to a nursing home, where they eventually passed away in 2015.

Finding Closure and Honoring Reba:
Relatives who have learned more about Reba’s later years have found solace in knowing that she was cared for. Cook County investigators have updated the entry for Seven Doe in a federal database of missing people, adding Reba Bailey’s name and photo. In the spring, a new gravestone and military honors will be bestowed upon Reba to honor her service. This case has also prompted the Cook County Sheriff’s Office to advocate for changes in the Missing Persons Identification Act to ensure more thorough searches are conducted at the time of death.

Conclusion:
Thanks to the dedicated efforts of Cook County Sheriff’s Commander Jason Moran and his team, the identity of an unknown individual buried in a Chicago cemetery has been uncovered. Reba C. Bailey, a Women’s Army Corps veteran missing since the 1970s, has been identified as the person known as Seven. This discovery has brought closure to Reba’s relatives and friends, and it may lead to changes in state law to improve the identification process for missing persons. Reba’s story serves as a reminder that every person deserves to be recognized and remembered..