A 4-year-old West Side boy died Sunday afternoon -- more than a week after suffering burns over 40 percent of his body when a lighter ignited his shirt.
Thomas McGowan was burned on Oct. 13 at his home in the 2900 block of West Fillmore Street. He was pronounced dead at 6:01 p.m. Sunday at John H. Stroger Jr. Hospital of Cook County, according to the Cook County Medical Examiner’s office.
A Monday autopsy shows the cause of death to be accidental thermal burns from clothing on fire, the medical examiner's office said.
The boy was playing with a lighter when his shirt ignited, according to police, who said his mother tried to extinguish the flames.
The Illinois Department of Children and Family Services is investigating Thomas' death based on an Oct. 19 report alleging neglect, department spokesman Jimmie Whitelow said. DCFS has not had prior contact with the family.
The boy was initially taken to Stroger Hospital with first- and second-degree burns over about 40 percent of his body, police said.
Fire Department officials told police the burns were consistent with a child playing with a lighter, police said.
