DETROIT – Police said two children froze to death inside a van at a casino parking garage in Detroit.
The incident occurred on Monday (Feb. 10) at 1 p.m. inside the Hollywood Casino parking structure in the 3900 block of Beaubien Blvd.
“I feel sad, very sad, especially as a father,” said Detroit police Captain Nathan Duda. “I just can’t imagine what the family is feeling. I wish it hadn’t have happened.”
Officials said five children were sleeping in the van parked inside the structure when the mother noticed her 9-year-old son was not breathing.
That was when, according to police, the mother called a friend to take him to the hospital.
While at the hospital, officials said the children’s grandmother reported that one of the other children, a 2-year-old girl, was not breathing, and the friend returned to take her to the hospital as well.
Officials said both children were pronounced deceased.
Duda said the van pulled into the casino around 1 a.m. and parked on the ninth floor, where it ran out of gas.
“Sometime thereafter, around noon, the mother inside the van, along with five children, noticed that one of the children wasn’t breathing, and she called family to come help to convey to Children’s Hospital. When that family member came to make the conveyance and left. The mother realized that there was a second child that wasn’t breathing, and she called her back. So that person then conveyed both children to Children’s Hospital where they were pronounced deceased, with the early indicator being that they froze to death.”
Detroit police Captain Nathan Duda
Duda says he was unsure when the van ran out of gas because it was turned off.
However, the incident would have happened sometime between 1 a.m. and noon, when the mother turned off the vehicle or ran out of gas.
He said noon was about the time that the mother realized that the child was not breathing.
When asked if the family had a place to stay prior to Monday morning, Duda said, “I don’t. I know that they had an address on the east side in an apartment complex, but her, the mother, and the other family member that ended up conveying the children they said that they were unsheltered. They didn’t have a residence to go to.”
The ages of the three children who were conveyed to the hospital were born in 2011, 2016, and 2020, and Duda says the incident was going to be investigated criminally.
“It has to be. It has to be. I mean, I don’t think anyone really wants to think about that at the moment with the two children passing. But the reality is that the circumstances do have to be examined. We have to figure out how to go forward.” Duda said.
According to officials, the other three children were checked out and expected to be OK before they are potentially placed with the Children’s Protection Services.
The mother has been detained and is providing a statement to investigators, but as of 8:15 p.m., she hadn’t been arrested.
“There’s actually respite centers or relief centers all across the city. There are so many resources available, and these resources will keep families together. The children and the mother may stay in the same spot, in the same building. That way, the family is maintained. It’s kept whole. They have each other for support. This was unnecessary. It didn’t have to happen this way.” DUDA
Officials said the family was unsheltered and appeared to have lived in the van.
Here is a list of warming centers for individuals looking to find shelter during the winter season.
“I would say that we care. I would say that society as a whole cares. The Detroit Police Department cares, and I know our partners do; partners such as Pope Francis, several shelters, several locations, and churches and facilities; the city has opened its arms to be able to help those that are in need.
Just avail yourself of it. Take it. We’ll give it. Just please take it. That’s really the message I would love to pass.”
I would just ask that people be aware of those that are in need. If you see somebody who appears unsheltered and it’s sub zero or cold weather, please call 911, we’ll come. We’ll help.
We’ll show up with all the right people to be able to offer resources to transport, to feed, to clothe, to give that person shelter. We do care. That’s a call we would like to get.”
Detroit police Captain Nathan Duda