On April 25, 2017, 17-month-old Sema’j Crosby was reported missing by her mother, Sheri Gordon. Approximately 30 hours later, Sema’j’s body was found under the couch in her home. The day after she was found, the home was deemed uninhabitable by the county, and the day after Sema’j’s funeral, the home burned to the ground.
DCFS had been involved with this family for years and had visited the home the same day that Sema’j went missing. In 2022, there was a civil suit in which DCFS and Children’s Home and Aid were deemed negligent in this case and Sema’j’s father won $6.4 million.
To this day, no one has been charged with Sema’j’s murder. If you have any information, please contact the Will County Sheriff’s Department at 815-727-8575.
CONTENT WARNING: This episode contains discussions of domestic violence and homicide. Listener discretion is advised.
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Sources:
CBS Chicago. (2017, April 27). Missing toddler found dead in her Will County home [TV Broadcast]. CBS News Chicago. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OPNeXX0zq04
CBS Chicago. (2017, April 28). Semaj Crosby's mother returns to her home, speaks of her heartbreak [TV Broadcast]. CBS News Chicago. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s-_izqhr8vU
Chavarria, L. (2022, April 22). Family of murdered Joliet toddler Semaj Crosby receives $6.4 million settlement. NBC News. https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/family-of-murdered-joliet-toddler-semaj-crosby-receives-6-4-million-settlement/2814141/
Department of Children and Family Services. (2017, May 6). Document Cloud. https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/3755632-Crosby/
Ferak, J. (2018, August 23). Sema’j Crosby’s father sues mother, child aid organization. Patch. https://patch.com/illinois/joliet/semaj-crosbys-father-sues-mother-child-aid-organization
Ferak, J. (2025, May 2). Semaj Crosby tragedy 8 years later: Will County Sheriff investigation takes new turn. Patch. https://patch.com/illinois/joliet/semaj-crosbys-mysterious-death-sheriff-investigation-takes-new-turn
