A Michigan television station said on Wednesday that a warrant was issued in last month’s case of a mother whose two children died of carbon monoxide poisoning while living in a van.
Unidentified sources reportedly told WJBK that Detroit police sent Wayne County prosecutors a criminal warrant request against Tateona Williams. The charges sought in this case are unclear, but prosecutors will decide whether they will formally file charges.
The Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office confirmed to the Detroit News that a criminal warrant was filed in this case, but they declined to say who it pertains to or what the charges are. However, Detroit Police Chief Todd Bettison disputed reports that any family members are being charged.
READ: 2 Homeless Kids in a Van Died From Carbon Monoxide — NOT Hypothermia
“The Detroit Police Department has completed its investigation into their deaths and submitted the findings to the Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office for review. DPD has not requested charges to be filed against any family member of the children,” Bettison said in a statement to the news outlet.
Bettison noted that an investigative file was sent to the prosecutor’s office, which happens in every case they investigate regardless of criminality.
Williams and her four children were reportedly homeless for around two months and parking in various casino parking structures when her 9-year-old son and 2-year-old daughter died on February 10. Though it was widely believed the two children froze to death, officials determined A’Millah Currie and Darnell Currie, Jr.’s deaths were from carbon monoxide toxicity.
According to reports, the children spent the night in the van with Williams, who drove to the ninth floor of a parking garage at Hollywood Casino at Greektown. Detroit police Captain Nathan Duda said the vehicle ran out of gas at some point before the mother called a family member about her 9-year-old son, who was not breathing.
Williams’ late son reportedly had severe asthma. Williams recalled being at the hospital with her son when her mother rushed her 2-year-old daughter to the hospital, as she was also not breathing.
Williams and her children were reportedly unhoused and living in their van. Mayor Mike Duggan confirmed that Williams called the city for help in November. At that time, she informed the city that she and her children were staying with family and would be homeless soon.
Duggan said the family never called the city’s homeless response team after that — and the team never followed up.
The children’s deaths were ruled accidental.
[Feature Photo: WXYZ]
