DETROIT — A local organization has come forward to assist the surviving relatives of two children from Detroit who tragically passed away in a freezing van situated in a casino parking structure, according to an official report.
A ceremony to honor Darnell Currie Jr., aged 9, and A’millah Currie, aged 2, took place on Thursday. They were among five children and two adults inside the van that lost its ability to heat when the temperature plummeted drastically on February 10.
Jessica Wiggins, a visitor at the funeral home, expressed deep sorrow, saying, “It makes you want to break down because that could have been your child. That could have been anybody else’s child.”
According to law enforcement, the family had been living in the vehicle for several months. Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan mentioned that the mother of the children had reached out to a housing hotline in November, but it seems her request went unaddressed. He has called for a report detailing the interactions the city had with the family.
Melia Howard, the Deputy Mayor, highlighted that a community organization has taken the initiative to cover the family’s rent for a year to ensure they have a stable living situation.
“It’s just important for me to let them know that we’re not just here for today. We’re going to be with them as long as they need us,” Howard shared through tears during her remarks at the funeral home.
