Formal identification made of children who were killed with their mother, Latoya Jackson, in Chatham last summer

Jeff Mayes — Tue, 26 Apr 2016 12:48:46 -0500

By JORDAN OWEN
Chicago Sun-Times Wire

Latoya Jackson | photo provided

When Latoya Jackson was found dead with her her three children in their Chatham home last summer, the bodies were so badly decomposed that the identities of two of the children could not immediately be confirmed.

This week, the Cook County medical examiner's office officially identified them.

The 28-year-old Jackson was found dead in the home in the 8300 block of South Drexel along with her three sons on July 18, 2015, authorities said. She died from ligature strangulation.

Her sons, 5-year-old Kantrell Williams; 10-year-old Kameron Simms; and 11-year-old Andrew Simms Jr. were all dead at the scene, authorities said.

Andrew Simms Jr. | photo provided

The medical examiner’s office announced Tuesday that Andrew’s cause of death was probable inhalation of products of combustion from an incendiary house fire; and Kameron’s cause of death was carbon monoxide toxicity and inhalation of productions of combustion. Kantrell’s cause of death was probable inhalation of productions of combustion, the medical examiner’s office previously revealed.

All four deaths were ruled homicides, according to the medical examiner’s office.

Latoya Jackson and her three sons were found dead in this Chatham home in July 2015. No one has yet been charged with their murders. | Mitch Dudek/Sun-Times

Leon Ervin said at the time that he was saddened to hear about his former daughter-in-law and her children. “She was a nice person, and they were good kids." He said his son, Andrew Simms, the father of two of the boys, was killed in a drive-by shooting in 2005.

Relatives told the Sun-Times at the time that the family had not been seen for about a week before their bodies were discovered when police investigated a bad smell coming from the home.

Authorities said it was not possible to tell how long the bodies had been in the house, because of the heat and advanced state of decomposition.

There was evidence of a fire in the home, but it was contained to the inside of the building and had not spread or been reported, according to a Chicago Fire Department official. The bodies had some burns, but it was not known whether they occurred before or after the deaths.

Chicago Police said Tuesday that the investigation is ongoing, but no one was in custody.

Kantrell Williams | Homicide Watch Chicago

Formal identification made of children who were killed with their mother, Latoya Jackson, in Chatham last summer