Police are searching for suspects after a Woodlawn woman was found beaten to death in her bathroom Monday night.
The woman has been identified as 47-year-old Barbara Ann Smith of the 1500 block of East 65th Street.
"She was a nice person. She was kind of quiet and she kept to herself but if you got in a conversation with her she would talk to you," said neighbor Tonie Denham.
Around 8:30 p.m. Monday, Smith's brother forced his way into the apartment after she didn't answer her cell and found Smith lying on the bathroom floor, police said. She had head trauma and appeared to have been beaten with a blunt object.
Smith's cousin, Pastor Willie Green, said the family is devastated by her murder.
Officers on the scene told NBC Chicago it does not look like the person responsible forced their way into the apartment, which may mean Smith knew them.
Denham said she's tired of seeing the neighborhood go downhill.
"I've got to move. I can't stay over here like this... The area's getting too bad," she said.
No arrests have been made. Smith's death is considered a homicide.
