Two young children were tragically found dead in a parked vehicle in a Detroit parking garage, with authorities suspecting that they succumbed to freezing temperatures. The incident occurred early Monday morning at the Hollywood Casino Hotel in Greektown, where a family had parked their van on the ninth floor after it ran out of gas around 1:00 a.m.
According to the Detroit Police Department, the family had been living in the van for an extended period, reportedly two to three months, as they struggled with homelessness. Captain Nathan Duda of the Detroit Police shared that the family was unsheltered and had no permanent residence. On that fateful day, five children were asleep in the vehicle when the mother discovered, around noon, that her nine-year-old son was unresponsive. She called a friend to take him to the Children’s Hospital of Michigan.
While at the hospital, the children’s grandmother noticed that a two-year-old girl was also not breathing. The friend returned to the parking garage to retrieve her, but both children were pronounced dead upon arrival at the hospital.
While the official cause of death has not yet been confirmed, police believe that both children likely died from exposure to the cold. Captain Duda expressed his sorrow over the incident, stating, “Very sad. Especially as a father, I just can’t imagine what the family is feeling.”
The three other children in the van were treated at the hospital and reported to be in stable condition. Interim Police Chief Todd Bettison indicated that the family had been moving from casino to casino and highlighted the mother’s determination to keep her family together despite their dire circumstances.
In late November, the family had reached out to Detroit’s homeless response team, indicating that they could no longer stay with another family and needed assistance. However, according to Mayor Mike Duggan, there was no follow-up from the outreach team, and the situation remained unresolved. The mayor has since directed Deputy Mayor Melia Howard to investigate how this oversight occurred and to ensure that similar situations do not happen again in the future.
In light of this tragedy, police are reminding the public of the available warming centers throughout the city, urging residents in need to seek shelter. The Detroit Rescue Mission Ministries also emphasized the importance of utilizing their shelters during the harsh winter months, stating that being outside in such cold conditions is extremely dangerous.
As the community grapples with the aftermath of this heartbreaking event, officials are calling for greater awareness of the resources available to those experiencing homelessness, stressing that such tragedies are preventable.