WOODLAWN — Nearly 30 days have passed since Teresa Smith spoke to her 65-year-old mother Daisy Hayes.
Now she’s urging neighbors to help her in the hunt for the missing Woodlawn woman.
Late last week, Smith held a press conference in front of her mother’s home at 6360 S. Minerva to call for neighborhood support to bring her mother home safely.
Smith said she last spoke to her mother on May 1. The family was not truly aware Hayes was missing until weeks later. She said she filed a missing person’s report on May 15 — two days after Mother’s Day. She described her as mother as a “feisty fighter,” “glue to our family,” and “someone everyone looks up to” despite standing just 4’11”.
“We all are being positive and think that she’s going to come home safe,” she said. “Everybody loves her. She’s the rock. It’s just been hard.”
Since filing the initial police report, there’s been little communication between the family and police, according to Smith. She said she was last contacted by officers about her mother on May 23 when she was asked for a DNA sample. Since her mother’s disappearance, Smith’s primary assistance in locating her mother has come from her brother, Michael.
Chicago Police said there is an ongoing investigation.
“The safety and security of every Chicagoan in every neighborhood is CPD’s highest priority,” a police statement read. “Our officers and detectives work together as part of the communities they serve to bring justice to victims and hope to their families during their most difficult moments. We encourage anyone who may have any information about Ms. Hayes’ case to please contact CPD Area Central Detectives directly, or anonymously through CPDTip.org”
Smith reached out to Ald. Willie Cochran (20th) but has yet to connect with him, she said.
Smith said over the past few weeks she has taken a leave of absence from her job to dedicate all of her time toward bringing her mother home safely. She described her mother as an “excellent” parent who could “light up a room.” Hayes’ immediately family is massive as she has 12 living siblings, according to Smith.
If you have any information pertaining to the whereabouts of Daisy Hayes, contact the family at 773-432–5675 or Chicago Police at CPDTip.org.