Dead Joliet Baby's Autopsy Complete

JOLIET, IL — An autopsy performed on a baby found dead in her home after she was missing for a day and a half did not reveal how she died.

Semaj M.L. Crosby's cause of death is pending the results of toxicological testing and the police investigation, according to Will County Coroner Patrck O'Neil's office.

Semaj was playing with six to eight other children, at least one of whom was as old as 13, when she was last seen about 4 p.m. Tuesday, said Will County Deputy Chief Rick Ackerson. The children were supposed to go get ice cream, but Semaj’s mother, Sheri Gordon, couldn’t get her car started, police said.

The children then went to play in the yard, and Semaj was not seen again until her body was found.

Independent, credible witnesses from the neighborhood told police they saw her walking away from her home, Ackerson said. She was supposedly barefoot at the time.

Semaj's mother, Sheri Gordon, did not call the police until about 6 p.m. Tuesday, Ackerson said.

Gordon initially agreed to speak with detectives and was questioned in a trailer that was being used as a mobile command post, Ackerson said, but another woman tried to put a stop to it.

"During the interview we did with the mother (a woman) was pounding on the outside of the trailer, telling her to stop," Ackerson said.

Ackerson said he does not know if the woman is related to Gordon in some way. She has been identified only by a first name.

At any given time, there were more than 10 people not related to Gordon or her three children living in her Preston Heights home, said Ackerson, who identified them as "squatters."

He called the woman who banged on the side of the trailer a "relative, squatter, I don't know."

A large group was gathered outside Gordon's house Wednesday, with adults and children coming and going and some playing with a ball.

A massive search effort, which included bloodhounds, helicopters and divers, was curtailed Wednesday night by inclement weather.

A Department of Children and Family Services caseworker was at Semaj's house for an abuse investigation Tuesday afternoon, Ackerson said, and left about 4 p.m., about the same time Semaj was last seen. A DCFS case worker was also on the scene Wednesday. DCFS spokeswoman Veronica Resa has failed to return a call for comment.

A deputy went into the house and performed a cursory search after Gordon called 911 and reported her daughter missing about 6 p.m. Tuesday, said Ackerson, who told of the house being in "deplorable condition."

Detectives attempted to interview Gordon a second time, but "her lawyer shut it down," Ackerson said. About 12 hours later, around 11 p.m. Wednesday, investigators convinced the lawyer to talk Gordon into granting deputies consent to search the house again.

“After talking with the family attorney, we finally were able to negotiate and got consent to search the house,” said Ackerson.

Semaj was found an hour later. No one has been charged yet with her death.

The sheriff's police have since contacted the Will County Land Use Department. Land use inspected the house and declared that it was uninhabitable, Ackerson said.

Ackerson would not say where in the house the Baby Semaj was found, if she died or was killed elsewhere and was returned to the home, or if she was taken out of the home and brought back. A car up the street was labeled "Police Crime Scene" and "Do Not Enter."

A massive search effort, which included bloodhounds, helicopters and divers, was curtailed Wednesday night by inclement weather.

A Department of Children and Family Services caseworker was at Semaj's house for an abuse investigation Tuesday afternoon, Ackerson said, and left about 4 p.m., about the same time Semaj was last seen. A DCFS case worker was also on the scene Wednesday. DCFS spokeswoman Veronica Resa has failed to return a call for comment.

The sheriff’s department was sent to Semaj’s house on Easter to investigate a domestic disturbance and abandoned 911 call, police said.

“When they arrived at the home they came across some kids outside playing with sticks,” the department said in a Facebook post. “They went inside and spoke to the mom and grandmother and found that everything was fine, however, a few of the kids were sad because they would not be going to their relative's house for Easter. The deputies realized that the five kids, ranging in ages from 3 to 9, had also not been visited by the Easter Bunny.”

The deputies went to a nearby store to buy candy and toys for the children, police said.

Ackerson was red-eyed and appeared emotional but maintained his composure during a press conference Thursday morning. Asked about his reaction to the tragic turn of events in Baby Semaj's case, Ackerson said, "Having kids of my own, tough."

Semaj M.L. Crosby | image via Will County Sheriff's Department