Allen Park Father Guilty Of Drowning Toddlers

DETROIT (WWJ) - An Allen Park man charged in the drowning deaths of his two young children has been found guilty in a bench trial that ended Tuesday.

Stephen Nicholson was found guilty of two counts of First Degree Premeditated Murder in the drowning of 15-month-old Ella Stafford  and 13-month-old Jonathan Sanderlin, as well as other charges including Child Abuse. 

Nicholson waived his right to a jury trial. Instead, Wayne County Judge Vera Massey Jones heard the case . He set sentencing for May 13.

Prosecutors said the 27-year old single father drowned the toddlers in the bath tub at of his Allen Park apartment last October.  

The Wayne County Medical Examiner said it was possible, but unlikely, the children could have turned on the water and entered the bathtub on their own.  Nicholson's lawyer said his client fell asleep and may have been negligent but didn't kill the kids.