DETROIT, MI — A heart-wrenching tragedy unfolded in downtown Detroit when two siblings were found dead in a parking garage at the Hollywood Casino Hotel at Greektown. The children, a 2-year-old girl and her 9-year-old brother, succumbed to suspected hypothermia, according to their mother, Tateona Williams.
The family, struggling with homelessness, had sought refuge in a van parked in the garage early Monday morning. After the vehicle ran out of gas, they remained in the garage through frigid conditions overnight. It wasn’t until late the next morning that Williams made the devastating discovery that her children were unresponsive.
Amid tears and distress, Williams recounted her futile attempts to save her son through CPR. “He made me a mother, and now my baby is gone,” she shared through her grief. The sequence of events led a friend to rush the boy to the hospital. In the meantime, Williams’ mother realized the younger child wasn’t breathing either.
Both children were declared dead at the hospital, leaving Williams grappling with regret and searching for answers. “She didn’t even get a chance to live her life,” Williams lamented. “I never wanted to be in this situation; I really tried to find places for us.”
Williams, a trained nursing assistant, expressed feeling stranded after repeated pleas for help went unanswered. Despite being on the Coordinated Assessment Model list, she claimed no substantial assistance materialized, even as she anticipated starting a new job.
Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan remarked on the city’s protocol for assisting homeless families in urgent need, noting the lapse in follow-up communication with Williams and her family. Officials are now examining these tragic deaths to fill gaps in the city’s support systems for the homeless.
As the investigation proceeds, the community mourns with Williams and her remaining three children, who were also assessed at the hospital and are expected to recover. McFall Brothers Funeral Home has stepped in to cover funeral expenses.
For those moved to help, the local organization Detroit Power Detroit Community Outreach is coordinating support for Williams’ family, offering a glimmer of hope through community solidarity.