Waiting for Justice: New details in the Semaj Crosby murder case
This is the first case of the 100 Death report released by the SAG and DCPS. I have copied the investigation findings below per AG and DCPS.
This is just sick!!! Illinois AG and DCPS knew that had a major problem BEFORE AJ was MURDERED!!!!
DEATH AND SERIOUS INJURY INVESTIGATION 1
A 17-month-old toddler was reported missing to police, prompting a massive search.
Thirty hours later the toddler was discovered deceased, under a couch, inside her family home. There was an open intact family services case and a pending child protection investigation at the time of the child’s death.
In September 2016, an intact family services case was opened for the mother of the deceased and her four children following two unfounded child protection investigations for inadequate supervision.
Services identified at case opening for the mother included: Norman funds for beds and bedding, parenting classes, and assistance with addressing her ten-year-old son’s possible hearing impairment. Mother was reported to receive SSI for cognitive delays; her sister was reported to receive the money monthly as the “overseer of the account.” Concerns were expressed about cognitive delays/learning disabilities and mother’s ability to ensure her children’s physical and mental health needs were adequately addressed. The intact family services case remained open at the time of the toddler’s death in April 2017 due to continued hotline reports while the case was open.
Between September 2016 and April 2017, there were numerous child protection investigations involving the mother and her children, as well as investigationsinvolving other individuals reported to be living in the home.
Three of those investigations were initiated due to reported safety issues for the seven-year-old sibling with significant behavioral health concerns.
The intact worker made regular announced and unannounced visits to the home, visiting at least once a week between September and December 2016; and biweekly in 2017 after a critical decision was made by the worker and supervisor to reduce the frequency of the required home visits. The worker successfully obtained Norman funds to purchase beds and bedding for the family. Concerns about the physical conditions of the home, particularly the soiled carpet, persisted throughout the life of the case and were well documented by the intact worker. Mother and the intact worker discussed having the carpet steam cleaned. While home cleanliness was often noted as an area of concern, it was not assessed during the intact case to have risen to a level of beingdanger to the children’s health or safety. Neither the intact worker nor investigators observed the home to be in the “deplorable” condition described by law enforcement at the time of the child’s death.
The home was noted to be frequented by individuals and other family members, some living in the home with their children on and off, during the course of service provision. The caseworker documented her concern that the mother was being taken advantage of by those individuals who refused to help with household bills or transportation, and that she was jeopardizing her Section 8 housing because she had unauthorized people living there.
Multiple child protection investigations involving the family and others living in the home occurred between the time of the opening of the intact family services case and the child’s death. Many of these investigations were not linked together in the State Automated Child Welfare Information System (SACWIS)and did not include all household members living in the home.
The mother did not complete parenting services, though she was referred twice. The mother initially started sessions with a parenting coach through the private agency servicing the case. The sessions were to occur weekly in the evening at the agency. Mother attended very few sessions and the service was discontinued due to transportation, babysitting and scheduling issues in January 2017. The caseworker then referred the mother for in home counseling through an outside provider to begin the month of the child’s death.
The deceased toddler’s seven-year-old sibling had a history of behavioral problems and attended an alternative school. Within the first two months of the intact family service case opening, the sibling was psychiatrically hospitalized for suicidal ideations and statements, and was hospitalized twice more during the intact family services case. His second hospitalization occurred after the child said he wantedto kill himself with a knife while he was on the school bus headed to school. Screening, Assessment and Support Services (SASS) came to the school and in the screening noted that the mother told school personnel that due to insurance issues the child had not had his psychotropic medication.
SASS authorized hospitalization and had an ambulance waiting at school, but the father, who arrived later, refused hospitalization and took the child home. DCFS was contacted and a child protection investigation was opened for medical neglect.
Mother was instructed to take the child to the hospital for an evaluation. The child was subsequently admitted. Mother and father reported to the investigator that the medical card had expired; that they had no transportation; and that their finances were too low to refill the prescription.
The child’s third hospitalization occurred six days prior to his sister’s death. The boy had been showing increasingly aggressive, impulsive, and hyperactive behavior at school and was threatening to stab himself. The child reported that his mother had not refilled his prescription for psychotropic medication, which led to changes in his behavior at school. There was no communication between the hospital and the intact worker, and the worker did not attend any discharge staffings.
Despite knowing from the onset of the intact family services case that mother received SSI for a non-physical disability, no formal assessment was conducted to determine the extent of her limitations; how they impacted her ability to ensure her children’s safety; and to determine and recommend services that would meet her specific needs.
The intact family services worker visited the home the day before the toddler was reported missing, and a child protection investigator had been to the home the day the toddler was reported missing. The home was reported to have dirty furniture, walls, carpeting, and clothing on bedroom and bathroom floors; however, no immediate safety concerns were noted. There were four adults present at the time the toddler was reported missing.
Law enforcement reported finding the home in deplorable condition, and the health department deemed the home inhabitable. The home later burned to the ground; arson is suspected.
The Department initiated a death by neglect investigation against the toddler’s mother and two other adults present in the home at the time the toddler went missing. These investigations are pending. A criminal investigation is also pending. The toddler’s autopsy report has not been released because the criminalinvestigation is pending. The one and eight-year-old siblings were placed in foster care and a 10-year-old sibling was placed with his biological father.
