DETROIT (WWJ) — A new report released Wednesday afternoon says the two children who died while sleeping in a van parked at the Hollywood Casino at Greektown last month died from carbon monoxide poisoning.
Dr. LokMan Sung, Wayne County's Chief Medical Examiner, listed the manner of the deaths of 2-year-old A’Millah Currie and 9-year-old Darnell Currie, Jr. as accidental.
The children’s cause and manner of death were certified on Wednesday, more than three weeks after they died.
The two children were among five staying with their mother in the van when they died on Feb. 10.
Detroit police and other officials previously said the children were believed to have frozen to death, as temperatures that week dipped below freezing.
An investigation by the city of Detroit showed the family had reached out to the city for help on multiple occasions dating back to December of 2023. That includes calls to the city’s homeless services in June and July of 2024, as well as a call last November indicating their temporary housing would soon no longer be available.
Officials say the family never reached out again for help and the city’s outreach workers never followed up to check on the family’s situation.
That led to a two-week review process of the city’s homeless services and last week Mayor Mike Duggan outlined a 7-point plan to improve the city’s emergency response to help the homeless.
Speaking on Feb. 27, Duggan said the city is implementing the seven following steps to help get unsheltered people the help they need:
• 1. Require site visits for all families with minor children.
• 2. Give special attention to finding families in vehicles.
• 3. Expand HelpLine (866-313-2520) to 24 hours.
• 4. Double the number of drop-in beds.
• 5. Expand night outreach teams.
• 6. Continue the successful use of police precincts as havens for safety and referrals.
• 7. Expand street outreach and education.
Among the most important parts of the plan, Duggan says it’s crucial for outreach workers with the Coordinated Assessment Model (CAM) system to have face-to-face conversations with those in need, especially when children are involved.
More information on the city's homeless response plan can be found on the city's website. Those in need of housing assistance can call the HelpLine 24 hours a day at 866-313-2520.