Two Children Found Dead In Allen Park

The father of two 1-year-olds found dead in an Allen Park apartment is being held while police investigate the deaths.

Allen Park police responded to a 911 call about 2 a.m. Tuesday from the 27-year-old saying the children drowned in a bathtub.

Police arrived to find Ella Stafford and Jonathon Sanderlin dead at the apartment. The toddlers have different mothers. Ella was 15 months old, and Jonathon was 13 months old.

The father hadn't been charged Tuesday afternoon, but was being held at police headquarters. His name has not yet been released.

Earlier Tuesday, WWJ spoke with 19-year-old Candice Curcio who lives on the floor above. She said police knocked on her family's door around 6 a.m.  Curcio said she didn't hear anything, but when she got home last night she noticed a strong smell coming from that apartment.

"It smelled so bad that I almost vomited. I got sick to my stomach. Because, I'm pregnant myself so... my nose is really sensitive," she said.

Jeweley Peters, 43, who also lives in the building, said she has to call police last summer after seeing the man leave the kids strapped in their car seats in his van.

Peters told WWJ's Pat Sweeting she often heard the children crying. "It's horrifying. I mean, babies are innocent. I don't know what kind of person could do something like that," she said.

A van and car that Peters said belonged to the father were parked outside. The van contained two infant car seats, and a police investigator used a set of keys to try to open both the vehicles during the search.

Police also were seen carrying bags that appeared to contain clothing from the apartment.

Investigators removed crib pieces and mattresses from the apartment Tuesday afternoon and placed them in a city vehicle. A Michigan State Police mobile crime lab was parked at the building, which was surrounded by yellow tape.

"We're looking at everything that we find inside the apartment building,'' said Allen Park police Detective Lt. James Wilkewitz.

Police are working with the medical examiner's office to determine the causes of death.

 (Copyright 2010 WWJ Radio.  All Rights Reserved. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)