Police in Detroit are investigating the possible freezing deaths of two children.

Fox 7 reported that early Monday morning, around 1 a.m., a family parked their van in the parking garage of Detroit’s Greektown Casino on the 9th floor. Police believe the mother and her five children had been living in the van.

At some point, the van ran out of gas. Around noon, the mother noticed that one child was not breathing and called a family member for help. When the family member arrived, they discovered that a second child had also stopped breathing. Both children, ages 2 and 9, were taken to Children’s Hospital, where they were pronounced dead, according to The Detroit News.

Detroit Police Captain Nathan Duda stated that an autopsy will determine the official cause of death, but it appears the children may have frozen to death. The National Weather Service reported that temperatures hovered around 17 degrees.

The other three children, ages 4, 8, and 13, were checked and appeared to be fine, according to Fox 7. Although the family has an official address on the east side of the city, it seems they have not occupied that home for some time. Reports suggest that the mother and her children have been living in the van for several months.

Child Protective Services and law enforcement are investigating the incident. Duda confirmed that police took the mother into custody and she provided a statement; however, as of Monday, no charges had been filed against her.

“This was unnecessary. It didn’t have to happen this way,” Duda said. He urged people to be aware of those in need. “If you see somebody who appears unsheltered and it’s subzero or cold weather, call 911.”

A list of warming centers for the Detroit area is available on the city’s website.

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[Feature Photo: Pixabay]