Woman Missing After Midway Arrival

A missing-person search is underway in Chicago after Kelly Cole-Duke, 41, flew in from Michigan and disappeared near Midway Airport. The basic fear here is simple — her family says she was in a manic episode, without the medication she normally takes for bipolar disorder, and she has another untreated medical condition on top of that. What changed this week is that Chicago police formally listed her as an endangered missing person and put out identifying details while relatives kept pushing for help. ### Who is missing? Kelly Cole-Duke is a 41-year-old woman from Michigan. Chicago police describe her as 5-foot-2, about 180 pounds, with brown hair, brown eyes, and a light complexion. Police say her last contact was May 4, 2026, and that she was last seen in the area of Midway Airport. Important. It labels Cole-Duke an “endangered missing person,” gives the case number JK242483, and says the public should contact Area One Detectives or call 911 with information. That label matters because it signals police see more than an ordinary missed check-in. Chicago? Family members told WGN that Cole-Duke left her home in Weidman, Michigan, ended up at the Grand Rapids airport, and boarded a Southwest flight to Midway. Her sister had driven from Columbus, Ohio, and warned airport staff that Cole-Duke was in the middle of an episode and did not have her medication, but she still got on the plane. ### Why are relatives so worried? The immediate issue is bipolar disorder during a manic episode. Family members told WGN that Cole-Duke has a history of taking long drives while manic, which helps explain how she got far from home so quickly. But the catch is that this is not just a mental-health crisis. Her husband and sister also said she does not have medication for a blood-clotting disorder. That raises the risk if she stays missing for long. ### Was she actually seen after landing? That part is still murky. WGN said she is believed to have been last seen at Midway on Monday evening, May 4. A cousin who lives in Chicago went to the airport after hearing from her by phone, but did not find her. Her sister also said there was declined bank activity at Midway, though Cole-Duke was believed to have cash with her. Chicago police then searched the airport and still did not locate her. ### What was she wearing? Family descriptions can be the difference in a case like this. WGN reported that Cole-Duke was wearing blue jeans, black tennis shoes, and a long-sleeved blue blouse with dark flowers. Police have also circulated the broader physical description in the endangered-missing notice. Finally, anyone in Chicago who was near Midway on May 4 or who may have seen a woman matching Cole-Duke’s description should treat this as time-sensitive. Police have asked anyone with information to call Area One Detectives at 312-747-8380. WGN also listed 312-856-3121 as a contact number shared with the family’s search effort. ### Bottom line This is a local missing-person case, but the urgency is higher than usual. Cole-Duke did not just miss a flight connection or stop answering her phone — she appears to have arrived in Chicago during a mental-health crisis and without medication for two serious conditions. As of May 7, she remains missing.