A 46-year-old cancer patient who traveled to Illinois for radiation treatment was beaten to death outside the treatment center.
Shannon Vincel traveled from her home in Missouri to the Cancer Treatment Center of America in Zion, Illinois.
Vincel and another cancer patient were waiting for a hospital shuttle to pick them up from the hospital residence when she was attacked from behind around 9:30 p.m. Monday, Aug. 22.
A witness told police the male suspect approached Vincel and began beating her with a blunt object. The man did not rob Vincel or the other patient. Police do not have a motive or any leads.
Vincel was pronounced dead at the scene.
Family members say Vincel felt safe because she was on the hospital grounds.
“Why would anyone just walk up and beat a girl from behind without warning and just beat her to death? Why?” Vincel’s mother, Anita Adams, told Fox 2 News.
A hospital spokesperson told Fox 2 that security has been increased at the Zion campus.
In accordance with her religious faith, Vincel was buried on Tuesday, Aug. 23, in St. Louis.
The Cancer Treatment Center of America is offering a $25,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of the killer.
