A young mother whose body was found inside a home in the South Side Chatham neighborhood along with the bodies of three children was strangled to death, according to the Cook County medical examiner's office.
The medical examiner ruled the cause of death for 28-year-old Latoya Jackson was strangulation and the manner of death was homicide. An autopsy was performed July 20, but it did not yield many answers.
The cause and manner of death for the three children was still pending, the medical examiner's office said.
Jackson and the three children were found inside a home in the 8300 block of South Drexel on July 18 after neighbors noticed a potent smell coming from the home and realized they had not seen the children, all boys, outside playing for several days.
Police then investigated the home and found four bodies deceased inside. Leon Ervin, the boys' grandfather, identified the boys as 11-year-old Andrew Simms, 9-year-old Cameron Jackson and 5-year-old Kentrell. He said all of the children attended Caldwell Elementary School.
Police and the medical examiner's office have not yet officially identified the boys.
"The ME’s office continues to work with family to confirm identification of the children," the office said in a statement.
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It remains unclear who strangled Jackson and how long the family was dead before they were found.
