Family pleads for help in finding Skokie woman who went missing 8 weeks ago

SKOKIE, Ill. - Monday marked exactly eight weeks since an 82-year-old woman from Skokie disappeared. Exhaustive search efforts have been underway since she went missing and loved ones are now renewing their calls for help.

Tsering Wangyal, who goes by her middle name, Dolma, was last seen on Monday, July 15 when she took the bus from Skokie to Evanston. She was planning to meet family members at the Tibetan Alliance of Chicago — but never made it.

"My mom loved going there, that was her senior center," said Tenzin Wangyal, Dolma’s daughter.

Dolma is considered ‘endangered,’ and both the Skokie Police Department and the Chicago Police Department are working to bring her home.

"My plea to the community is to be an extra set of eyes and ears," said Tenzin.

Dolma is 5’1" and was last seen wearing a dark-colored, long-sleeve cardigan, light pants, and multi-colored Crocs sandals. She wears glasses and has brown eyes.

A candlelight vigil was held on Monday evening at James Park in Evanston, near the Levy Senior Center where she was last spotted. Family members hope to jog someone’s memory from the day their beloved mother and grandmother went missing.

On July 15, surveillance video shows Dolma leaving her Skokie condo building located in the 9500 block of Bronx Place. She then boarded the CTA’s Route 97 bus, but her daughter believes she got off at the wrong stop.

Security video captured Dolma in the lobby of the Levy Senior Center, located at 300 Dodge Avenue in Evanston. Tenzin believes she was there looking for help, but a language barrier may have complicated things for the native Tibetan speaker.

"She was there close to 30 minutes," said Tenzin.

Dolma was last seen leaving the center around 6 p.m. that evening. Having left her purse and cellphone at her Skokie home, though, she has been unreachable ever since.

Her family has formed search parties – combing through nearby wooded area and walking along the North Shore Channel. They’ve also distributed posters and called area hospitals, nursing homes, and facilities but so far – no luck.

Dolma's family says it could take just one lead to bring her home

"We are limited to the areas we can cover, so the plea really is, remember my mom's face and know that she is still missing," said Tenzin. "We’re still hopeful that she’s out there somewhere, so if you’re working at a shelter or if you work in healthcare, or it could be anyone, if you’re driving a bus or an Uber driver, just watch out for her in case you come across her."

As loved ones and neighbors gathered in prayer on Monday night, they were joined by Skokie police officers and Skokie Mayor George Van Dusen.

"We’re a very tightly knit community," said Van Dusen. "If you saw something however small, report it to us and let us track her down."

Police said there were no new updates on the investigation Monday, but previously shared that no foul play is suspected.

Dolma's family created a website – Finding Dolma – dedicated to their search efforts.

If you have any information on the whereabouts of Tsering ‘Dolma’ Wangyal, you are asked to contact 911 immediately. You can also call the Skokie PD at (847) 982-5900.