Mother hospitalised after two-year-old found dead in 'domestic related homicide'
Warning: This article contains discussion of child abuse and self harm which some readers may find distressing.
A child has died and the mother has been hospitalised after attempting self harm in the suburbs of Chicago.
Police were called to a large house at 22700 Brook Stone Court in Frankfort, just after 4pm on Tuesday, September 1, when they received a report of an unresponsive child, reports NBC Chicago.
After arriving on the scene, authorities found the 2-year-old and CPR was administered.
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Police also discovered the child's mother attempting self-harm.
Both were taken to hospital. The child was later pronounced dead, police said, while the mother was found to have non-life threatening injuries.
A preliminary investigation indicated the incident was a 'domestic-related homicide' and a homicide investigation has been launched by Frankfort Police and the Will Grundy Major Crimes Task Force.
Frankfort mayor says death has shocked the community
Frankfort Mayor Keith Ogle confirmed that other children lived at the home as well as the 2-year-old, though how many and their ages was not revealed.
Ogle told NBC Chicago: "Everybody was in shock, and this is just a horrible thing in the community.
"I'm a father with two daughters who just had babies recently, and it's very difficult for everybody here.
"I don't want people to draw conclusions out of school on this.
"Let the investigators get the information, get the facts. They'll interview neighbours, other people that are involved, and we'll get a complete picture, or as best as we can."
The Will County Coroner's office confirmed the death of the 2-year-old was 'the result of an apparent homicide' but a cause of death was not confirmed, as it is pending police and toxicological reports.
Officials told NBC Chicago on Wednesday that the mother remains under 'observation.'
Frankfort police said in a statement: "Our thoughts are with everyone affected by this tragedy.
"We encourage our community to support one another with compassion, understanding, and strength as we navigate this difficult time together."
Frankfort is 36 miles south of Chicago, in Illinois.
If you’ve been affected by any of these issues and want to speak to someone in confidence regarding the welfare of a child, contact the NSPCC on 0808 800 5000, 10am-8pm Monday to Friday. If you are a child seeking advice and support, call Childline for free on 0800 1111, 24/7.
If you’ve been affected by any of these issues and want to speak to someone in confidence, please don’t suffer alone. Call Samaritans for free on their anonymous 24-hour phone line on 116 123 or contact Harmless by visiting their website https://harmless.org.uk.
Daniel Murphy