DETROIT (WWJ) -- No criminal charges will be filed in the heartbreaking case of two children who died in a van at the Greektown Casino parking garage.
The decision was announced by Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy on Wednesday, nearly a year after the tragedy in Downtown Detroit.
Darnell, age 9, and Amillah, age 2, were found unresponsive last winter while their family — which had nowhere to stay — were spending the night in a van in the parking garage attached to Hollywood Casino at Greektown.
Worthy said an extensive review — including hours of surveillance video, mechanical testing, interviews and autopsies — confirmed that the children died from accidental carbon monoxide toxicity.
Tests showed the van had a leak that filled the cabin with deadly gas just within minutes.
Detroit Police initially said it was believed that the kids froze to death.
Worthy said there simply is "insufficient evidence" to charge the mother with a crime, noting that early public comments by police and other officials about the case actually impeded the investigation.
Worthy said, in a statement: “There were many public pronouncements by police and elected officials in this case. It is important to note that the warrant review was necessary in this case and solely within our purview. Those statements in some respects hampered our process. That being said, there will be no criminal charges in this case.
"However, we remain very concerned about the welfare of the remaining living children. While we, like many others, were heartened about the number of people and organizations that stepped in to help this family, we hope that those efforts will continue, and that those who are truly empowered to protect these children will continue to do so diligently."
** If you are someone you know is facing a housing crisis and needs a place to stay, call the Detroit Housing Resource HelpLine at 866-313-2520, operated 24/7. **