Will Co. Won't Give Up Sema'j Case

JOLIET, IL — The spokesman for the State's Attorney's Office said Wednesday that the Will County Sheriff's Department remains the proper law enforcement agency to oversee the unsolved homicide investigation of Sema'j Crosby. Wednesday marked one year since the Joliet Township toddler vanished. During the early morning hours of April 27, 2017, Will County Sheriff's Police discovered the little girl's dead body underneath a couch at her family's filthy home in Preston Heights.

To this day, the person or persons responsible for the child's death and hiding her body underneath the couch have not been charged with any crimes.

During Wednesday's interview, spokesman Chuck Pelkie said the sheriff's department has had contact with a number of outside law enforcement agencies and outside personnel in hopes of bringing justice to Sema'j. Pelkie said, "There is no reason nor any need for any outside agency to take over this case."

When asked about the Will County Sheriff's Department, Pelkie said, "They are working tirelessly on this case." Pelkie also said the sheriff's department has devoted countless hours of manpower and that investigators "have been met with roadblocks" on numerous occasions along the way.

"The sheriff's office has worked tirelessly on the case," he reiterated. "We understand the public's desire to have resolution. Absolutely."

Earlier in the day, Bishop Gregg L. Greer of Freedom First International sent a letter to Attorney General Lisa Madigan and to Patricia A. McConnell, director of investigations at the Office of the Inspector General in Chicago. The letter also got sent to State's Attorney James Glasgow and to Will County Sheriff Mike Kelley. Greer stated in the correspondence that he is the Sema'j Crosby estate lead advocate.

“We are deeply concerned that after one year to date of the murder that the death of this child has not yet been resolved," Greer wrote.

Another portion explains, "However limited, the Will County Sheriff Department has worked inside the local community to collect various information on those who are being investigated. We believe the revelations of the past year regarding this investigation has been a considerable disappointment, as well as a major blow to public confidence and more specifically, the local Will County law enforcement institutions and to the integrity of public security."

Greer's letter urges the state officials to consider "a thorough, complete and impartial examination."

"Given the fact that the Will County Sheriff Department has missed critical opportunities to push forward with this investigation, we urge that Will County Sheriff's Department now recuse itself going forward, and hand this investigation over to more qualified investigative hands being the State of Illinois. Even the Will County Sheriff's support of more qualified State investigators would be a welcomed and necessary change."

The letter ended with Greer mentioning how he hopes "to schedule a conference or meeting in the following days, to discuss options."

Meanwhile, at noon this Saturday, the Justice For Semaj Action Team will hold a community play day event at the Oak Valley Park in Preston Heights. The park is not far from the property where Sema'j and her family lived. There will be a balloon release, games, activities, a magician, a guitar and song tribute.

RELATED: Sem'j Crosby Tragedy, A Year Later: Ferak Column

Main image via Will County Sheriff's Department; all other images via Joliet Patch archives/via Patch staff and Will County Sheriff's Office