Woman found strangled in Calumet River was reported missing by mother

	April 19, 2009 FROM SUN-TIMES NEWS GROUP WIRE REPORTS A Chicago woman found strangled to death in a creek off the Little Calumet River in south suburban Dolton Friday had been reported missing by her mother in early April, police said Sunday. About 11:15 a.m., Dolton police contacted the Dolton Fire Department to report a possible body in a branch of the Little Calumet River near West Sibley Boulevard (Route 83) and Wentworth Avenue, Dolton Fire Chief Jerry McCullough said. About 1 p.m., emergency crews recovered a deceased woman, whose feet had gotten stuck in the mud. She was floating in the middle of the creek, which is only about 3 feet deep -- though it gets deeper as it flows north towards the Little Calumet, he said. On Saturday, the Cook County Medical Examiner’s office identified the woman as Arika Nichelle Sims-Rentas, 36, of the 3100 block of West 38th Street. While officials initially found no signs of trauma on her body, an autopsy determined Sims-Rentas died from strangulation and her death was ruled a homicide, according to a Saturday autopsy. Sims-Rentas was reported missing to Chicago Police on April 4 by her mother, according to police News Affairs Officer Laura Kubiak, who said her mother had not seen her since March 26. Police did not know how long the body had been in the water and said a woman walking past notified police of the body. Illinois State police are investigating the murder.