By JORDAN OWEN
Chicago Sun-Times Wire
Latoya Jackson
Latoya Jackson, who was found dead in her Chatham home along with three children 10 days ago on the South Side was strangled, according to autopsy results announced Tuesday.
The Cook County medical examiner's office found that Jackson, 28, died from ligature strangulation and her death has been ruled a homicide, according to a spokesman.
Relatives told the Sun-Times the other three bodies were her three sons: Andrew, 11; Cameron, 9; and Cantrell, 5. But the medical examiner's office has not positively identified the children, and autopsy results for all three remain pending further testing.
"The ME's office continues to work with family to confirm identification of the children." spokesman Frank Shuftan said.
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, according to the official.
A source reported Latoya Jackson also appeared to have a head injury.
A joint death investigation was being conducted by several agencies, including the police Bomb and Arson Unit; U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Firearms, Tobacco and Explosives; Illinois State Fire Marshal; and Chicago Fire Department Office of Fire Investigation, said Special Agent Thomas Ahern, spokesman for ATF.
Ahern said the nature of the scene—the number of bodies and evidence of fire—required the multi-agency response.
“It was a hazardous situation because of the condition of the bodies,” said Ahern, who could not comment on how the bodies were found.
He added the investigation might take a while because it’s not “a basic fire scene.”