ICYMI: Two Michigan Kids Freeze To DEATH—After Homeless Mom Asked City for HELP!
A desperate mother begged for shelter, but when help never came, her two young children froze to death in a cold Detroit van. 🌐 #News #DetroitMI #Michigan #Politics
DETROIT, MI – A tragic case of neglect and misfortune has rocked Detroit, Michigan after two young children were found frozen to death inside a van near a casino. Their mother, who had been living in the vehicle with her four children for months, had desperately sought help—only to be met with silence. Now, city officials are scrambling to explain how a system designed to help the homeless failed so catastrophically.
A Desperate Struggle for Survival Ends in Tragedy
Tateona Williams had been fighting to keep her family safe while living in a van for the past three months.
On Monday morning, that fight ended in heartbreak. Her 9-year-old son and 2-year-old daughter were found unresponsive after the vehicle ran out of gas in freezing temperatures.
Their deaths, likely caused by hypothermia, have sent shockwaves through the city and raised urgent questions about Detroit’s handling of homelessness.
Williams had tried to keep her children warm as they slept in the parking garage of the Hollywood Casino at Greektown. But when she awoke, her oldest son was no longer breathing.
Frantically attempting CPR, she pleaded with him to stay with her. Moments later, she realized her youngest daughter was also unresponsive.
A friend, who had been trying to help the family jumpstart the van, rushed them to the hospital, but it was too late. Both children were pronounced dead.
Calls for Help That Went Nowhere
The grieving mother is adamant—she tried to get help.
Williams had called Detroit’s homeless response team in November, seeking shelter after losing a place to stay with a friend. But no resolution was reached, and the city never followed up.
Officials have since confirmed her requests for assistance, yet no outreach worker was sent to check on the family. The children’s deaths have now forced the city into a reckoning.
Mayor Mike Duggan admitted the system failed, acknowledging that while there were available shelter beds just miles from where the family parked, the lack of follow-up proved fatal.
He vowed an immediate review of the city’s homeless services, calling the situation an unacceptable tragedy.
A System in Crisis
The Williams family had been parking near casinos for months, relying on the safety of the area and access to restrooms. But without consistent support, their situation became dire.
On the night of their deaths, the van stopped running—either due to mechanical failure or running out of fuel—leaving the children exposed to the brutal cold.
Williams now remains in a shelter, while her two surviving children have been placed with relatives. Overcome with grief, she is left questioning why it took the deaths of her children for authorities to finally intervene.
“It took my two kids to die for y’all to help me?” she asked, expressing the unimaginable pain of losing her son and daughter in one night.
As Detroit officials scramble to respond to the public outcry, one thing is clear—this should never have happened.
In the wake of this devastating loss, we remember the innocent lives of these two young souls and the pain their mother now carries.
As Matthew 25:35 reminds us, “For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me.” May this tragedy serve as a call for compassion and action to help those in need—before it is too late.
RELATED TOPICS: Michigan | Politics
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