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DETROIT (FOX 2) – Officials are reeling after the discovery in a van parked at a casino in Detroit where two kids were found dead early Monday morning. According to police, both kids froze to death due to frigid winter temperatures.
Beginning around noon Tuesday, both city and police officials will hold a press conference with updates into the investigation. FOX 2 will stream the conference in the live player above.
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What we know:
A family living in a van pulled into the Hollywood Casino in Greektown parking lot around 1 a.m. on Monday. Police say sometime between then and the late morning, two children died.
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The kids, ages 2 and 9, were taken to Children’s Hospital of Michigan in Detroit after their mom observed they were not breathing. They were pronounced dead soon after arriving.
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Three other kids were also living in the van. They were checked out but were found to be physically fine.
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Detroit police say the children’s mother was detained and provided a statement to police.
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What we don’t know:
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Police told FOX 2 the vehicle had run out of gas sometime after the van had parked at the casino, but it’s unclear when.
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The family’s mother also told police they were homeless – however, it’s unclear what circumstances led to their living status or how long the family had been without shelter.
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Police did confirm a criminal investigation “has to” happen due to the tragic outcome. Whether any charges come of the case is uncertain.
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Local perspective:
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City officials are doubling efforts to ensure families know about available resources for those struggling with homelessness.
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Among the services that families can use include warming centers that are open throughout the day. There is also the Detroit Housing Network, which acts as a hotline that can connect people to resources.
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In addition to calling 911, there are also nonprofits that offer their own respite from the extreme weather.
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The Source: Information from the city, the local police department, and Detroit’s housing services department was used for this story.
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