Police are investigating after Maombi Joyeuse was found unresponsive Saturday morning in the West Ridge neighborhood and later died.
CHICAGO, IL — A 1-year-old girl died Saturday after she was found unresponsive with visible injuries on Chicago’s North Side, prompting a police death investigation.
The child was identified by the Cook County Medical Examiner’s Office as Maombi Joyeuse. Chicago police said she was found about 11:40 a.m. Sept. 12 in the 2600 block of West Rosemont Avenue in the West Ridge neighborhood.
Police said Joyeuse had visible injuries to her lower body when she was found. Authorities have not released additional details about how the injuries occurred or what happened before the child became unresponsive.
Emergency crews took Joyeuse to St. Francis Hospital in critical condition, according to police. She was later pronounced dead.
The circumstances surrounding the girl’s death remained under investigation early Sunday. Police have not publicly described what may have caused her injuries, and no motive or explanation for her condition had been released.
The Cook County Medical Examiner’s Office identified Joyeuse after her death. Police said a full autopsy was pending, meaning an official cause and manner of death had not yet been announced in the initial reports.
Area 3 detectives are handling the investigation. Authorities had not released information identifying a suspect or announcing criminal charges in connection with the child’s death as of early Sunday.
The investigation remains active as detectives and the medical examiner work to determine how Joyeuse was injured and what caused her death. Police had not announced further findings.
Author note: Last updated September 13, 2026.