Death By Neglect: Baby Sema’j DCFS Report Released

JOLIET, IL — A Department of Children and Family Services caseworker suspected Baby Sema’j Lyric-Ma’Love Crosby’s mother was being taken advantage of by her paternal aunt and grandmother months before the 1-year-old was found dead under a couch in her Preston Heights home, according to a report released by DCFS.

The grandmother, Darlene Crosby, and her daughter Lakerisha Crosby, seemed to be living in the home of Baby Sema’j’s mother, along with Sema’j’s three siblings and Lakerisha’s two children.

The caseworker expressed her concerns to Sema’j’s mother, 32-year-old Sheri Gordon, according to the report.

“The caseworker noted that she discussed with Ms. Gordon that it appeared she was being taken advantage of by the Crosbys, and was noted to be making ‘excuses’ for them being in the home,” the report said. “The caseworker documented that they refused to help Ms. Gordon with the household bills and help with transportation. The caseworker reminded Ms. Gordon that this was her home, subsidized through the Section 8 Program and that others should not be living there.”

Sema’j’s father, James Crosby was locked up at the time and was still in jail when his baby daughter disappeared and died last month.

The DCFS report was written to review the agency’s performance leading up Sema’j’s death.

DCFS conducted “multiple child protection investiagtions” at Sema’j’s Louis Road home, and a caseworker was at the house on the day she disappeared, the report said.

“The home was reported to have dirty furniture, walls, carpeting, and clothing on bedroom and bathroom floors, but no immediate safety concerns were noted,” the report said.

After sheriff’s deputies found Sema’j dead under the couch, a new allegation “death by neglect, was added to this investigation for Sema’j,” the report said.

Sema’j’s cause of death remains undetermined nearly a month after her body was found. No one has been charged with harming her.

Deputy Chief Rick Ackerson of the Will County Sheriff’s Department called conditions at Sema’j’s home “deplorable,” which does not jibe with the assessments of DCFS caseworkers, according to the report. The report does note that deputies donned shoe protection when they entered Sema’j’s home due to an alleged roach infestation.

After Sema’j’s body was found, her home was declared unfit for habitation. It burned to the ground the day after she was buried.

Sema’j was last seen playing with six to eight other children in the front yard of her home about 4 p.m. April 25. Her mother, Sheri Gordon, did not call the cops until two hours after her daughter disappeared, police said.

A massive air, water and ground search was carried out for the next day and a half.

Sema’j was finally found around midnight the day after she vanished.

Watch: Funeral for Baby Sema'j

Baby Sema’j Lyric-Ma’Love Crosby | image via Will County Sheriff's Department