Two children found dead inside van in Detroit, likely froze to death, police say
(CBS DETROIT) - Two children appeared to have frozen to death while sleeping inside a van on Monday in Detroit, according to police.
Detroit police say the children were identified as a 9-year-old boy and a 2-year-old girl. Three other children are listed in stable condition. Police say the family appeared to be living in the van that was parked in a Hollywood Casino parking structure on Beaubien.
Police Captain Nathan Duda says the mother parked the van in the garage at about 1 a.m. but a preliminary investigation revealed that the vehicle ran out of gas at some point.
At about 1 p.m., the mother noticed the 9-year-old was not breathing and called a friend to take the child to the hospital, according to police. Sometime later, the grandmother reported that the 2-year-old was also not breathing and the friend returned to take the child to the hospital.
Both children were pronounced dead.
"This was unnecessary. It didn't have to happen this way," Duda said.
Chiara Clayton with Detroit Rescue Mission Ministries shares that resources, like the mission, are available to families.
"People come to us, and we keep families together," Clayton said. "Our shelters don't close. There is always someone working, even overnight. Services are really needed overnight, so we have someone working 24/7."
An investigation is ongoing.
