Dad charged in drowning, scalding deaths of toddlers; dad had custody of boy (Allen Park, Michigan)

I was a little confused after reading the article below. These two toddlers were just two months apart. It appears they must have had separate mothers, since one of the mothers is specifically identified as the mother of the 15-month-old girl. So who is the mother of the 13-month-old boy? She's not named at all.

Actually, another article from yesterday (October 20) states that Dad STEVENS NICHOLSON had custody of the boy. The mother is not named in the October 20 article either. All we're told is that she "gave up" the child and lives "up north." See the link here:

http://www.detnews.com/article/20101020/METRO/10200334/1409/metro

The October 20 article also states the following: "Police had been called to the apartment previously to check on the well-being of the children, but no action was taken, sources said."

That's typical. And notice what the neighbor said about this lovely custodial dad:

"'He's the type of person who doesn't get along with others,' [Jeweley] Peters said. 'I called the cops when he left the babies in his van this summer. It was June or July. I heard a baby and I saw them in the van. Police said he'd been called on before.'"

So now this lovely custodial dad has been arrested scalding and drowning both children, after they were found dead in his apartment. Lovely indeed.

And I can't help but wonder how truly "voluntary" the mother's loss of custody really was, given the circumstances outlined here. Abusers like this dad often use custody "battles" as a way to punish or control the women in their lives.

http://www.detnews.com/article/20101021/METRO01/10210439/1409/metro

Last Updated: October 21. 2010 2:02PM
Allen Park toddlers died from drowning, scalding
Steve Pardo / The Detroit News

Allen Park— Prosecutors say the father whose two young children drowned this week is expected to be charged and arraigned this afternoon in 24th District Court in connection with their deaths. The brother and sister toddlers — 15-month-old Ella Stafford and her 13-month-old brother, Jonathon Sanderlin — were found dead in an Allen Park apartment Tuesday.

The Wayne County Medical Examiner's Office said today the children died from drowning and scalding. Autopsies were performed Wednesday, and authorities broke the news to family members that the children suffered severe burns. The findings now officially make the deaths a homicide investigation.

Their father, Steven Nicholson, 27, of Melvindale, has been held by police since Tuesday. The Wayne County Prosecutor's Office received reports and a warrant request for him today from Allen Park police.

Police said Nicholson called 911 around 2 a.m. Tuesday, saying his two kids drowned in a bathtub. Water was found around his unit at the Valley Spring Apartments in the 11000 block of Old Goddard. Some areas were described as flooded, police said.

Tayler Stafford, who is Ella's mother, said she never thought harm would come to her child.

"Not in a million years," she said today.

She added she hasn't slept or eaten. When asked how she's getting through the days, she said: "I don't know. I'm not."

Nicholson has a lengthy record of mostly misdemeanor crimes, including malicious destruction of property and being a minor in possession, dating to his teen years, court records show.

The most serious was a conviction for possession with intent to deliver marijuana out of Melvindale in 2002. The most recent was a citation in May for an improperly registered vehicle.

From The Detroit News: http://www.detnews.com/article/20101021/METRO01/10210439/1409/metro#ixzz131Oup2B3