Petition for justice

 

My name is LaToya Robinson. I am Semaj’s god mother. I am fighting for Semaj to receive justice and for the other surviving children to be safe. I am writing this petition demanding justice for Semaj and that the Joliet State’s attorney assist in making that a reality. I humbly request and I am seeking the public’s assistance in making this all possible and to raise awareness to the fact that DCFS are not doing their jobs to help and save these children.  

 

On April 25, 2017, 16 month old Semaj Crosby was reported missing hours after a meeting with DCFS by her mother Sheri Gordon. Semaj’s mother Sheri Gordon, her paternal aunt LaKerisha Crosby, her paternal grandmother Darlene Crosby and the Crosby’s friend Tamika Robinson were there also accompanying numerous children. When police arrived on the scene, all of these women told police that Semaj was missing and may have “wandered off”.

 

Many people, including myself, came out to search for her. I stopped by the house  and noticed that everyone were searching with the exception of Semaj’s grandmother Darlene Crosby who was casually laughing and gossiping with her friend Tamika Robinson. I looked at the ladies who stopped talking as Dontraven and I walked up to the house. It appeared to me that they had a look of deception to them, they looked as if they had something to hide. LaKerisha Crosby followed Sheri Gordon, staying very close to the mother during various interviews that she monitored, interrupted and even ended; making sure that she never left her side and all communication was monitored and controlled. I began to look around the house, noticing the poor condition in which it was kept. The house was extremely filthy and filled with numerous cans of bug spray and excrement from rodents. I looked around the house amazed that it was in this condition. As I was searching the house, I noticed Darlene’s daughter was in the bathroom. After knocking a few times, she answered that she was using the bathroom. I tried waiting for her to come out but she had taken so long that I decided to get back to searching for Semaj.

 

I remember the first day of searching how the Crosby’s told everyone that a man who lived nearby had Semaj in his home. Everyone went to the man’s home angered by what they were told about him and demanded that he let everyone search his home. Initially the man refused to let anyone search his home but after talking with police, he agreed to let them search. Semaj was not there. Someone also told police that a former lover of Sheri’s had Semaj at Tamika Robinson’s house. Also during an interview with police, Sheri Gordon’s sister interrupted the interview by telling her “Do not talk to them.”

 

 

 

After 2 days of searching, Semaj Crosby was found deceased under the couch in her deplorable home with bugs eating her beautiful face. This was very puzzling considering the fact that during initial search, police lifted the couch for LaKerisha Crosby to get one of Semaj’s shoes for the search dogs to track her scent. When the dogs were searching, they would go a few feet and come back to the house and tap on the window where the couch was located where the Crosby’s and many people who squatted at the home were sitting during the search. 

 

Semaj and her siblings were the victims of child abuse; mental, physical and verbal. One of Semaj’s brothers suffered so poorly in his home that he reported suicidal ideations to his mother and teacher at his school. The teacher notified DCFS who were already conducting investigations on his mother, his paternal aunt and his paternal grandmother who moved into their home located in the 300 block of Louis road in Joliet, Illinois. Semaj’s courageous brother also told DCFS workers about his abuse and even told them that no longer wanted his paternal grandmother and aunt at their home. On the day that Semaj was reported missing; there were numerous children and adults who also were squatters in the home and perpetrators of child abuse. Including Semaj’s cousin who was sexually abused by her mother’s partner who was also abusive towards the 3 year old’s younger brother.

 

Tamika Chaney, LaKerisha and Darlene Crosby were all given polygraphs where they all failed. They have given many inconsistent stories and accounts that often conflict with previous stories they have told about that day. Sheri Gordon, LaKerisha and Darlene Crosby all retained attorneys before Semaj found was inside the home. Cosmo Tedone (the Crosby’s attorney) was once employed by Chuck Bretz (Gordon’s attorney) of Chuck Bretz & Associates.  Tamika Robinson, LaKerisha and Darlene Crosby have all taken polygraphs in which they all have failed. They all refuse to reveal which questions they failed and refuse to take another one since they accused the police of not properly administering it. I called the Steve Wilkos show twice so that they can take a free one and I also offered them the numbers and rates of local professional they could go to. They declined. Sheri Gordon never took a polygraph. The Crosby’s also refuse to let Darlene’s minor daughter who was in the house the entire time (and who was in the bathroom when I came to the house) talk with police. 

 

Two years later, although police claim that Semaj’s case remains open and it is “still a top priority”; Semaj’s case remains unsolved. No charges for the abuse that the children suffered that was documented in a 22 page DCFS report. LaKerisha Crosby now has custody of her children and also gave birth to a new child last year. She now lives with her mother, Semaj’s father, her sisters (including the minor person of interest) and her younger brother in her grandmother’s home and sometimes hotel rooms. Sheri Gordon has given birth to twin boys who she does not have custody of at this time. Tamika Robinson and the Crosby’s friendship is as strong as ever remaining silent and uncooperative suspects who knows exactly what really happened to Semaj Crosby but refuse to reveal it; denying and depriving these children of justice and peace.