Published on: January 29, 2026, 09:26h.
Updated on: January 29, 2026, 09:33h.
- A mother whose children perished in a Detroit casino garage will not be prosecuted
- An investigation revealed that the carbon monoxide fatalities were due to accidents
A homeless mother from Detroit, who was seeking refuge in a casino parking structure nearly a year ago, will not face legal repercussions for the tragic carbon monoxide deaths of two of her children.
On Wednesday, the Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office announced that no legal actions would be taken regarding the fatalities that took place at the Hollywood Casino Greektown parking facility in February 2025. A nearly year-long inquiry concluded that both Darnell Currie, 9, and A’millah Currie, 2, died from accidental carbon monoxide poisoning.
“After a thorough examination of all pertinent evidence, the Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office has determined that there is insufficient basis for charges against the mother of the two deceased children. The cause of death was ruled accidental for both children,” the office stated.
“We remain deeply concerned about the well-being of the surviving children. We, like many others, were encouraged by the numerous people and organizations that came forward to support this family, and we hope that those efforts will persist. It’s crucial that those responsible for the safety of these children continue to do so with diligence,” Prosecutor Kym Worthy mentioned.
Heartbreaking Loss
According to police reports, Tateona Williams, then 29, drove her van into the Hollywood Greektown Casino parking lot during freezing temperatures around 1 a.m. on February 10, 2025, leaving the vehicle running as she and her five children slept inside.
Williams became aware that Darnell and A’millah were not breathing around noon that day. Rather than dialing 911, she opted to call a family member, who quickly transported the children to the nearby Children’s Hospital of Michigan.
Despite emergency efforts, the staff could not revive the children. Initial suspicions of hypothermia were overturned by autopsy results indicating carbon monoxide poisoning.
Records indicated that Williams had reached out to a shelter for assistance in November 2024, but she had been living independently in the van with her children since then.
Investigators from the Detroit Police Department identified a carbon monoxide leak in the vehicle where the two children had been resting.
Law enforcement found bags of feces and urine, as well as trash inside the van, along with a marijuana bong and rolling tray.
Surveillance footage captured the van entering and being parked for extended periods in the casino garage leading up to the incident.
Hazardous Fumes
Every year, over 400 individuals in the United States lose their lives to accidental carbon monoxide poisoning not linked to fires. The federal health agency warns that even minor leaks in a vehicle’s exhaust system can pose risks, especially when the vehicle is parked inside enclosed spaces.
“Never operate your car or truck inside a garage,” advises the CDC website.
Carbon monoxide is both odorless and tasteless, making it particularly dangerous. Various household items, including portable generators and charcoal grills, also emit this toxic gas. Symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning encompass headache, dizziness, weakness, nausea, vomiting, chest pain, and confusion.