CHICAGO — A woman was found stabbed to death in an abandoned church in West Englewood Saturday afternoon, officials said.
Denise Warfield, 47, of the 7300 block of South Winchester Avenue, apparently died from multiple stab wounds, according to the Cook County Medical Examiner's Office.
Her body was found about 4:30 p.m. in the 7200 block of South Ashland Avenue, said Officer Veejay Zala, a police spokesman.
Police were canvassing the vacant lot next door for a weapon Saturday evening, and bystanders gathered near the scene.
"In a church? Now that's messed up," said one man.
Wanda Walker, who was standing with friends and family just outside a line of red police tape, said Warfield was her sister-in-law.
"They should have torn this place down years ago," Walker said, pointing to the abandoned red building with cross-shaped windows.
Family said they last saw Warfield Friday on the street where her body was found. Walker said her sister-in-law used drugs but added that was no reason for anyone to hurt her.
"Everybody knew my sister," she said. "She was harmless. Her bark was bigger than her bite."
Correction: A previous version of this story incorrectly identified the neighborhood where the scene took place as Auburn Gresham.
