Sema'j Crosby's Father Sues Mother, Child Aid Organization

JOLIET, IL - James Crosby was in Will County's Jail when his baby girl, Sema'j, was discovered dead inside the family's filthy house in Joliet Township's Preston Heights, during the early morning hours of April 27, 2017. His mother, Darlene Crosby, has repeatedly blamed the child's mother, Sheri Gordon, for the tragedy. She has accused Gordon of killing Sema'j. Now, James Crosby has retained a Chicago law firm to file a negligence and wrongful death civil lawsuit in Cook County against the homicide victim's mother.

Besides Gordon, the Children's Home & Aid Society of Illinois, a not-for-profit entity, was also named as a co-defendant. The organization is a contractor affiliated with DCFS.

To this day, Sema'j's case remains an unsolved murder at the Will County Sheriff's Department. Sheriff Mike Kelley and his team of investigators, led by Detective R.J. Austin, have been unable to make an arrest. News of the James Crosby lawsuit, which filed in Chicago and not in Will County where the death occurred, was first reported by the Chicago Sun-Times.

Here are the main allegations lodged in the negligence and wrongful death lawsuit against Gordon:

• "Failed to properly supervise Sema'j Crosby."
• "Allowed Sema'j Crosby to be left unattended for periods of time that were not age-appropriate."
• "Exposed Sema'j Crosby to unsafe and unsanitary living conditions."
• "Caused Sema'j Crosby to become asphyxiated."
• "Allowed Sema'j Crosby to become asphyxiated."
• "Placed Sema'j Crosby under the couch where she died."

James Crosby's lawsuit informs the court that "the aforementioned acts or omissions were a proximate cause or contributing cause to the death of Sema'j Crosby. This claim is brought pursuant to the Illinois Wrongful Death Act."

Last September, James Crosby attended several public prayer vigils and rallies in hopes of bringing justice to his dead daughter. At one of the events, held at the site of the former house on Louis Road, Bishop Gregg L. Greer of Freedom First International in Chicago made a point to walk over and greet Sema'js father. James Crosby made a few brief comments, then clutched the hands of other members of the action team, joining them as they bowed their heads in deep prayer.

"I'm standing with the father, James," Bishop Greer announced. "He's a good man, and you can quote me on that. He's a good man."

Before leaving that day, James Crosby told Joliet Patch he was grateful for everything the Sema'j Crosby action group continues to do. "I thank everyone out here. We're getting closer," he said.

In November, he attended a birthday celebration to mark what would have been Sema'js second birthday. Shortly after a soloist sang, "Happy Birthday" dear Sema'j, Sheri Gordon abruptly ran out the building.

Days later, Darlene Crosby told reporters that Sheri Gordon was the first person involved in the case to retain a lawyer. She said that Gordon was the last known adult who was with Sema'j on the afternoon of her last day alive.

"She never left the house to go search for the baby ... we all did. We here were all looking for the baby. Sheri was still there," Darlene Crosby recalled.

This week's lawsuit also states that Sema'j was the youngest of Sheri Gordon's four children, the others being 10, 7 and 2, and one of them had profound behavioral and mental health issues requiring the child to be kept in a psychiatric hospital for treatment.

The lawsuit also states that "CHA noted that Sheri Gordon had cognitive limitations and this interfered with coordinating the children's medical and care."

And on April 27, 2017, around 6:30 p.m., "prior to contacting the police, Sheri Gordon contacted her personal lawyer," the lawsuit informs the court.

RELATED PATCH COVERAGE OF THIS TRAGEDY:

• Grandmother: Sheri Gordon Killed Baby Sema'j Crosby
• Will County Sheriff's Office Forced To Give Up 911 Calls
• Sema'j Tragedy: One Year Later, John Ferak Column

Images via John Ferak/Joliet Patch Editor