Child welfare officials investigating death of 5-month-old on South Side

The Illinois Dept. of Children and Family Services is investigating whether neglect led to the death of a South Side infant on Friday.

Welfare officials are investigating the mother and father of 5-month-old Shaniyah Walker, DCFS spokeswoman Veronica Resa said on Saturday.

Shaniyah was found unresponsive by a family member about 1:15 a.m. in the 7100 block of South Sangamon, the same block she lived in, according to Chicago Police and the Cook County medical examiner’s office.

She was taken to St. Bernard Hospital in critical condition, then transferred to University of Chicago Comer Children’s Hospital, authorities said. She was pronounced dead there at 6:18 a.m.

An autopsy performed Saturday came back inconclusive. Police said they are conducting a death investigation.

DCFS has not had prior contact with the family, and it appears no other children are in the home, Resa said.