Tragedy struck as two young lives were lost while they slept in a van during the frigid winter conditions in Detroit.
During a press conference the day after the incident, interim Detroit Police Chief Todd A. Bettison reported that five children were found sleeping in a vehicle located on the 9th floor of the parking garage at the Hollywood Casino. Among them were a 2-year-old girl and a 9-year-old boy.
Authorities reported that before the moment the mother noticed her 9-year-old son was unresponsive, she had reached out to a “close relative” for assistance due to the vehicle’s fuel depletion.
“Upon discovering that her son was not breathing, the mother promptly called 911,” Bettison stated, noting that a friend present at the scene quickly utilized their vehicle to transport the child to the Children’s Hospital of Michigan.
Upon assessing the other children in the van, authorities found that the 2-year-old was also unresponsive. A friend returned, and subsequently, the whole family got into the vehicle and headed to the hospital.
At the hospital, both children “were pronounced deceased, with the early indicator being that they froze to death,” Detroit Police Capt. Nathan Duda informed NBC before the press briefing.
At the press briefing, law enforcement officials stated that “the temperatures were below 32 degrees” at the time. They noted that while a medical examiner will make the final determination regarding the cause of death, “initially it seems to be related to exposure to hypothermia.”
According to Fox 2, the other three children, aged 13, 8, and 4, received treatment in the hospital and are currently in stable condition. At the press conference, authorities provided limited information, stating only that the children are currently with other family members.
PEOPLE reached out to the Hollywood Casino at Greektown for a response, but has not received a reply yet.
Officials have announced that an investigation will take place regarding the fatalities, and potential charges against the mother remain a possibility, as reported by CBS Detroit.
As reported by Fox 2, the mother was taken into custody and gave a statement; however, police confirmed at their press briefing that no one is in custody at this time.
“It must be looked into,” Duda stated to NBC News. “While it may not be the most comfortable topic right now, especially with the loss of the two children, it’s important to acknowledge that the situation needs to be looked into.” We need to determine our next steps.
At the press briefing on February 11, Detroit’s Mayor Mike Duggan expressed that one element contributing to the sorrow of the situation “is that there were family shelter beds available just a few miles away.”
Duggan emphasized that the availability of services is meaningless if residents are unaware of how to access them. He mentioned that the family had contacted their “homeless response team” multiple times, including on November 25.
“During that discussion, no agreement was achieved,” he stated. “Based on our findings to date, it appears the family did not reach out again for assistance.” He also mentioned that no one ever took the initiative to contact the family to check if they required assistance.
“It is imperative that we take all necessary measures to prevent a recurrence of this situation,” he emphasized.
Officials believe the mother and her children may have been residing in the van for several months.
Individuals facing the threat of homelessness are encouraged to reach out to shelters or churches for assistance, as Duda has called on the public to notify the police if they observe anyone sleeping outdoors in the frigid temperatures.
“We will arrive with the necessary individuals to provide resources, transport, food, clothing, and shelter for that person,” Duda stated, according to NBC. “Our concern is genuine.”