Police search for answers after mother, toddler found dead on South Side

CHICAGO (WGN) — Chicago police are searching for answers after a mother and her toddler were found dead at a South Side home early Tuesday morning.

According to Chicago police, the victims were discovered by Chicago fire crews who responded to the scene in the 2400 block of West 80th Street, in Ashburn, at around 3 a.m.

Officers said a witness spotted the first victim, a 25-year-old woman unresponsive in the backyard of a home in the area. Crews responded to the scene and located the woman, who was pronounced dead shortly after.

While on the scene, fire crews spotted an open door of the nearby residence and entered the home, where they found an unresponsive 1-year-old child who was later pronounced dead on the scene.

Authorities have not yet identified the victims, but a family member identified the child as 1-year-old Ellis Romero Washington.

The child’s father said the boy had just turned 1 on April 17 and described him as full of life, happy and loving.

Currently, it is unclear what led to the deaths and an investigation is now underway.

No arrests have been made in connection with the case.