Two young children, ages 9 and 2, tragically died from hypothermia after spending the night in a freezing parking garage in Detroit. Their family had been living in a van for several months, struggling to find shelter.
The children were found unresponsive on Monday afternoon in the Hollywood Casino Hotel at Greektown parking garage, according to police.
A Heartbreaking Tragedy
Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan called the situation devastating. “It’s a terrible day in Detroit as we mourn the loss of two young lives. We need to rethink how we handle these issues,” he said during a press conference on Tuesday.
Police reported that the family had been living out of their van for two to three months, moving between different casino parking lots. On Monday around 1 a.m., they parked on the ninth floor of the Hollywood Casino garage. Sometime during the night, their van stopped running, possibly due to a mechanical issue or running out of gas.
The children’s mother called a friend for help but, by the next morning, she noticed that her 9-year-old son was not breathing. She immediately called 911 at around 12:12 p.m., and her friend rushed the boy to a hospital. While checking on the other children, they discovered the 2-year-old was also unresponsive. The grandmother called 911, and the friend returned to take the younger child to the hospital as well.
Both children were pronounced dead at the hospital. Police believe hypothermia was the cause, as the temperature in the parking garage had dropped below freezing. The Wayne County Medical Examiner’s Office will confirm the official cause of death.
The family consisted of two adults and five children, ages 2 to 13. The other three children were examined at the hospital and are now staying with relatives.
A Failure in the System
Authorities revealed that the family had contacted a homeless assistance program in late November 2024, seeking shelter after they could no longer stay with relatives. However, their case was not classified as an emergency, meaning no outreach worker was sent to help them.
Mayor Duggan has now ordered a full review of the city’s homeless services and emergency response system. He plans to implement a policy requiring in-person visits for families with children in crisis situations.
He also pointed out that family shelter beds were available just a few miles away from where the family had parked. “Having resources means nothing if those who need them don’t know how to access them,” he said.
This tragic case has raised serious concerns about how Detroit assists homeless families, especially those with young children, during harsh winter conditions.
