CHICAGO — DCFS is investigating the mother of 3-year-old Ashley Mendoza, who was found dead in her Dunning home Sunday due to injuries suffered from child abuse.
"DCFS is investigating Ashley’s mother for allegations of abuse. Our investigation is pending," the agency said in a statement. "We have had no prior reports regarding this family. There were no other children reported to be in the home."
Ashley Mendoza, 3, was pronounced dead on the scene at 8:48 p.m. Sunday, according to the Cook County Medical Examiner's Office.
Ashley was dead when police arrived and the case was ruled a homicide early Monday. A person of interest was being questioned Monday morning, said Officer Amina Greer, a Chicago Police Department spokeswoman.
Ald. Nicholas Sposato (36th) said investigators told him the mother of the child told police two men with guns broke into her house in the 3300 block of North Natchez Avenue and beat her daughter to death.
However, police found no evidence of a break-in, and nothing appeared to have been taken from the home, said Sposato, who said he arrived at the Dunning home just after 9 p.m. Sunday.
In addition, the girl had been dead for several hours when police were called about 8:30 p.m., Sposato said.
"In my opinion, that sounds suspicious," Sposato said. "I'm not the smartest guy in the room, but that sounds hard to believe."
Contributing: Erica Demarest and Heather Cherone
