Amierah's body was found in a wooded area in south suburban Riverdale near 140th Court and Normal. The Calumet City girl was reported missing from a home near 35th and Rhodes on the city's South Side on Sunday afternoon.
When Amierah was reported missing, police were initially told that the boyfriend of Amierah's mother had left the child unattended for a moment, and when he returned she was gone. Police never issued a missing child report and have been questioning the mother and boyfriend since Sunday evening.
Amierah was just 19 months old, a happy, loving, joyful child. That her life would end in violence is stunning to loved ones.
"I'm still trying to absorb it all. I know it's true, but again I'm still in awe and disbelief," said Bernadette Madison, child's grandmother.
Madison says she received a frantic call from her daughter, Amierah's mother, Sunday evening shortly before 6 p.m. Amierah had gone missing, Madison was told, after being in the care of her daughter's boyfriend at his residence in the city's Bronzeville neighborhood while her daughter was at work.
"They had arranged to meet downstairs in front of the building, but the other party was there. My daughter showed up there. No Amierah," said Bernadette Madison.
"There was a lot of investigating going on as far as the police checking every outgoing and incoming car," said Norrice Hogans, Bronzeville resident.
At least two hours before Amierah was reported missing, the body of a young girl was found in this wooded area in Riverdale.
On Monday, the medical examiner confirmed it was Amierah. She'd been assaulted and suffered head injuries. The death was ruled a homicide.
"She was a sweetheart. She was a joy to be around. She was an angel," said Deborah Madison, child's great grandmother.
"I'm going to miss her smile. I'm going to miss, we danced all the time. We played. I was her BFF," said Bernadette Madison.
On Monday night, police were questioning Amierah's mother and her boyfriend as Amierah's grandmother and others struggle to make sense of her death.
"We will have to deal with this in time. Hopefully each day will make it easier to deal with," said Bernadette Madison.
No charges have been filed at this time. Relatives of the child's mother have been coming here to Area Central police throughout the day but have not been able to speak with their family member.
