MI - 2 children die in Detroit casino parking garage, police say they probably froze to death.

[sds71]

Two children have died and three others hospitalized after sleeping in a van amid Detroit's cold weather.


A 2-year-old girl and a 9-year-old boy were among the five children who had been living in the vehicle NBC News reported. Their mother had pulled into the parking garage of Hollywood Casino at Greektown at around 1 a.m. Monday, Feb. 10, but ran out of gas some time after, according to Fox 2.


She realized at around noon that her 9-year-old wasn’t breathing, per CBS Detroit. After calling a family member to help take the child to the hospital, she then discovered her 2-year-old also wasn’t breathing.


“And so that person conveyed both children to Children’s Hospital, where they were pronounced deceased, with the early indicator being that they froze to death,” Detroit police Capt. Nathan Duda said, per NBC News.

2 Children Freeze to Death as Family Sleep in Van and Run Out of Gas in Detroit Cold Weather: Reports

A 2-year-old girl and a 9-year-old boy froze to death while sleeping in a van with their family on Monday, Feb. 10. Their three siblings — ages 13, 8, and 4 — have been hospitalized but are in a stable condition, per multiple outlets.

people.com

Detroit mom called city for help before 2 kids froze in casino parking garage

The mother called the city for resources before her two children apparently froze to death while they slept in a van.

www.freep.com

 

[tlcya]

Just a few miles from the Hollywood Casino in Greektown, where the mother parked the van on Monday, family beds were available at a shelter, Duggan said.

The family did not call the city's homeless response team back and the city never followed up with the family after the initial call, he said.
Detroit mom called city for help before 2 kids froze in casino parking garage

terrible and tragic

 

[ChatteringBirds]

This is so tragic. I wish she felt she could ask for help. Maybe she was afraid the kids would end up in foster care?

 

[Wallendo]

The headlines are a little misleading. The mother called for help 3 months ago, but never called again. Three generations were staying in the van, including 5 children.

The article also states that the van had issues and cut off in the middle of the night. I wonder if carbon monoxide played a role in the deaths.

 

[Rolypolyoly]

This is heartbreaking

 

[amandab]

I'm surprised the family member she called wasn't able to take them in in the first place? Though maybe they weren't aware of the situation. Poor things.

 

[ChatteringBirds]

Instead of calling 911, she called a family member. Instead of calling 911 when they arrived and found non-responsive children, the relative drove to the hospital. I do wonder their explanations for three adults (mother, grandmother, arriving relative) not calling 911.

 

[CatsandMystery]

Many people don’t even consider calling ambulances because they are insanely expensive. I have driven myself to the hospital a few times when it would have been better to call an ambulance, but it never crossed my mind to do so because I know I can’t afford one.

 

[LoveyG]

I wonder why they had to leave the family members they were staying with previously? Worn out welcome maybe? They must feel terrible.

 

[imstilla.grandma]

*Ugh! I'm speechless with severe sadness for this little family.

The family had been living in the van for two to three months, Interim Chief Bettison said, and it was known that the family moved around to various parking lots.

It’s thought that the family chose the casino parking lot for safety and access to bathrooms inside

https://fox8.com/news/2-kids-living-in-van-with-family-freeze-to-death-in-detroit-police/

* known to who? someone that's skilled to recognize such circumstances in casino security & surveillance? does that then make them mandated reporters?

The case is being investigated as a criminal incident. The children’s mother was detained and has provided statements to detectives. Despite the location, police say the incident was not related to gambling.

2 kids apparently froze to death after sleeping in van in parking garage, police say

Police say the children died after a homeless family of six slept in their van in a casino’s parking garage.

www.wsmv.com

 

[borndem]

Oh, those poor children. And the poor mom. Takes my breath away.
What is gonna happen to the mother now?

 

[Clearsky]

2 children freeze to death in van at Detroit casino, police say

Three other children in the van will be OK, police said. The kids' mother was initially detained, then released from custody.

eu.detroitnews.com

Detroit — Two children froze to death Monday morning while spending the night in a van that was parked at a Detroit casino garage, police said.

 

[HmmMysterious]

2 children freeze to death in van at Detroit casino, police say

Three other children in the van will be OK, police said. The kids' mother was initially detained, then released from custody.

eu.detroitnews.com

Detroit — Two children froze to death Monday morning while spending the night in a van that was parked at a Detroit casino garage, police said.

Exiting thread: MI - 2 children die in Detroit casino parking garage, police say they probably froze to death.

 

[sds71]

In her interview with PEOPLE, Williams said she "kept calling" homeless services after Nov. 25.


"I kept calling. I called out of state, cities, different states. I asked Detroit for help," Williams said. "And they still would say, when I called, they didn't have no beds. But it took two [of] my kids to die... for them to want to help."


When Williams called Detroit's Homeless Services on Nov. 25, they told her no family rooms were available, but they would let her know when one did. They never did, she told PEOPLE.


Smith explained to PEOPLE that Williams and her family had a "unique" situation because shelters would have to make "special accommodations" for the family. Smith said Williams and her family are staying at Detroit Power Detroit Community Outreach, an independently-owned shelter.


In his news conference, the mayor called on Deputy Mayor Melia Howard and Housing and Revitalization Department director Julie Schneider to furnish a review about this case within two weeks.

Mother of 2 Children Who Likely Froze to Death in Van Says 'It Took 2 of My Kids to Die' to Get Help (Exclusive)

Tateona Williams, the mother of two children who likely froze to death in a van, tells PEOPLE in an exclusive interview that she reached out to homeless services in multiple cities and states but could not get help before their deaths on Feb. 10.

people.com

 

[imstilla.grandma]

“I lost the one who made me a mother. And I lost a 2-year-old,” Williams said through tears. “I’m dying inside. It hurts. It feels like my heart is breaking. But I have two more kids to live for.”

Mom of 2 kids who froze to death while sleeping in a van says she asked for help: ‘I’m sorry, but I tried’

The mom of two children who died from hypothermia while sleeping in a cold van said she has asked for help for a long time.

www.kgns.tv

 

[mickey2942]

Forgive my skepticism. But police officers are not forensic doctors. There needs to be an official death certificate, listing the cause of death.

Let's wait for the evidence, before jumping to conclusions.

 

[Donswife48]

This is tragic. I wonder why no one ever thought to obtain sleeping bags rated for extreme cold temperatures to snuggle the children in. Or why the adults didn't cradle the poor children with their own bodies to keep them warm.

 

[ChatteringBirds]

I think one possibility may be carbon monoxide, if they were keeping the engine on in a parking garage.

 

[Ontario Mom]

Just now seeing this horrible case.

"Williams told PEOPLE that when she woke up, she saw "stuff coming out" of Darnell's mouth, then had him rushed him to the hospital. "They really couldn't do much because I guess it was too late," she said. Mother of 2 Children Who Likely Froze to Death in Van Says 'It Took 2 of My Kids to Die' to Get Help (Exclusive)

I don't know if I've ever followed a hypothermia case but wondered if that's a normal symptom?
It's questionable if carbon monoxide was the cause, since the MSM articles say the van ran out of gas sometime in the middle of the night so the van would have been off for many hours before noon, when the MSM articles say the mother discovered her oldest not breathing.

 

[airportwoman]

Forgive my skepticism. But police officers are not forensic doctors. There needs to be an official death certificate, listing the cause of death.

Let's wait for the evidence, before jumping to conclusions.

I agree. The children will have to be autopsied.

I have my opinions and theories about what happened, but my other source is not the most reliable and I will keep them off here until and unless it's confirmed, one way or another.