After 16-month-old Semaj Crosby was reported missing at around 6:30 pm. on Tuesday, the Will County Sheriff’s Department launched a search for the Toddler. However, on requesting access to the family’s home from Semaj's mother, Sheri Gordon, the body of the toddler was finally found early Thursday morning. Semaj was found to be wearing the same clothes she was last seen wearing – inside her Preston Heights, Joliet Township home.

The 16-month-old was found dead – with no visible signs of physical injury or blunt force trauma – under a couch in the home.

The couch reportedly had no legs and was flush to the floor. Police believe the toddler’s body was either placed in or pushed through, the couch, as there was no sign of damage to the furniture.

Cause of Joliet Township toddler’s death is still unknown

Reportedly throughout the initial search for the child, the family had been fully cooperative. However, the case now remains open and reportedly an autopsy performed by the county coroner came back inconclusive. The cause of death has not yet been determined, as the coroner is awaiting final toxicology results, which the office said could take several weeks.

According to the Chicago Tribune, Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) had been in the process of investigating Gordon for child neglect and agents had been to the home shortly prior to Semaj being reported missing.

The agency said they had found no immediate threat to the toddler’s safety at that time.

House, where Joliet Township toddler was living, was ‘uninhabitable’

In a report by The Herald News, police had said that Semaj had lived in the home with Gordon together with between five to 15 other people, who reportedly squatted in the house.

Police also said that after an examination of the home, it was found to be “uninhabitable” and in a deplorable condition. The home had no working stove and the doors were reportedly blocked by garbage, containers of clothing and other items, which made it difficult to open the doors, thus creating a safety hazard in case of fire.

No current suspect in death of toddler

The Sheriff’s Office said Friday that currently, no one is in custody relating to Semaj’s death, but the case continues to be a suspicious death investigation. Officials said in a statement that every angle of the tragic incident will be actively examined to determine a potential suspect.

While there is currently no suspect in the death of the 16-month-old child, Neil Patel, an attorney acting for Gordon, has said on Friday that DCFS agents have taken custody on Friday of one of his client’s two surviving children. The other is reportedly in the care of the child’s biological father. According to Patel, Gordon is distraught over the loss of her daughter.
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