Autopsy: Midlothian toddler murdered

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Updated: October 29, 2011 12:36AM

An autopsy Saturday determined that a Midlothian toddler who died Thursday was beaten to death.

The toddler’s mother had been investigated for child abuse twice previously — including an incident last month, according to officials with the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services.

A sibling was removed from the home after the toddler died, state officials said.

The toddler, who lived in the 3600 block of West 147th Place in Midlothian, died of multiple blunt force injuries and child abuse, according to the Cook County Medical Examiner’s Office.

The death was ruled a homicide.

The toddler was pronounced dead at 1:45 p.m. Thursday at Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn, according to the medical examiner’s office.

“We are investigating allegations of abuse and neglect against the mother in this family,” DCFS spokesman Kendall Marlowe said.

He said the agency had had two previous contacts with the mother.

One was “indicated or substantiated” in 2009, and the other, last month, was classified as a “pending investigation” of abuse and neglect, Marlowe said.

Marlowe said one sibling has been placed in the care of a relative.

Midlothian Police Chief David Burke said police were notified at 2:30 p.m. Thursday of the death and were investigating.