A Detroit mother is speaking out after two of her children likely froze to death while seeking shelter in a van at a local parking garage. Tateona Williams, 29, shared her heartbreaking story after the tragic incident on Monday, February 10.
According to the Detroit Police Department, the family had been living in the van on the ninth floor of the Hollywood Casino parking garage. At the time, five children and two adults were inside. The victims, Williams’ 9-year-old son, Darnell Currie Jr., and her 2-year-old daughter, Amillah Currie, were both found unresponsive after exposure to freezing temperatures.
Williams, accompanied by Detroit Board of Police Commissioner Tamara Liberty Smith, spoke exclusively with PEOPLE about the incident. Williams confirmed that the family had been using the parking garage as a shelter because it was free, and they had access to a restroom at the casino.
Detroit interim Police Chief Todd Bettison said during a press conference on Tuesday that the mother realized her 9-year-old son was not breathing. She had already called a relative for help, who arrived and rushed the child to a hospital. While on the way to the hospital, the relative discovered that Amillah was also not breathing.
“While en route to the children’s hospital, the friend checked on the other children and realized that the 2-year-old wasn’t breathing,” said Bettison. Both children were later confirmed dead at the hospital.
Williams recalled seeing “stuff coming out” of Darnell’s mouth when she woke up and rushed him to the hospital. Sadly, by the time they arrived, it was too late. She did not realize Amillah was in distress until her mother rushed into the hospital with the child.
Temperatures on the night of the incident were reportedly below freezing, and Bettison believes the children’s deaths were caused by hypothermia. The medical examiner will determine the official cause of death.
Authorities later confirmed that the family had been living in the van for about two to three months before the tragedy occurred. The family had chosen the parking garage because of the safety and restroom access it provided.
Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan, who spoke at the February 11 press conference, emphasized the failure of available resources to assist the family. “The heartbreaking part of this is that there were family shelter beds available just a few miles away,” Duggan said. “It’s clear that having services available doesn’t help if the people who need them don’t know how to access them.”
Duggan also revealed that the family had contacted the city’s homeless response team in late November 2024, explaining they had no place to stay after living with another family. However, the response team did not send out an outreach worker, and no follow-up was made.
Williams told PEOPLE that she repeatedly called homeless services after November 25, but was told no rooms were available. “I kept calling… I asked Detroit for help. They said they didn’t have any beds,” she said. “But it took two of my kids to die before they wanted to help.”
Detroit’s Homeless Services department told Williams that they would notify her when a family room became available, but that call never came.
Tamara Liberty Smith, director of Detroit Power Detroit Community Outreach, a transitional housing service, explained that the family’s situation required special accommodations that traditional shelters could not provide. The family is now staying with Smith’s organization.
In response to the incident, Mayor Duggan has called on Deputy Mayor Melia Howard and Housing and Revitalization Director Julie Schneider to review the case and provide a report within two weeks.
Related topics:
