Homicide Ruled Out in 8-Year-Old Girl's Hanging Death, Manner Still 'Undetermined': Medical Examiner

The Cook County Medical Examiner has ruled out homicide in the death investigation of an 8-year-old Roseland girl who was found hanged in a closet last week.

The cause of Cherish Foster’s death was ruled “asphyxiation due to hanging” but the manner of which the young girl died is still undetermined, the medical examiner’s report said.

Someone in Cherish’s home called police on Oct. 21 reporting that the child in the home in the 9200 block of South LaSalle Street had committed suicide. Cherish was pronounced dead later that evening at Comer Children’s Hospital.

DCFS is currently investigating the girl’s mother, Carmella Evans, on allegation of abuse and neglect. Two siblings have been placed with relatives.

Evans reportedly told authorities that she believed her daughter and 7-year-old son were playing a game.

“To the best of its ability, the Cook County Medical Examiner’s Office has ruled out homicide as a manner of death,” a county spokeswoman said.