babies burned and drowned, father charged

[Lady Cop]

oh god i have no words. heartbreaking.

ALLEN PARK — A suburban Detroit father who called 911 to report the drowning deaths of his two small children was charged with first-degree murder today, a prosecutor said.

Steven Nicholson has been in custody since Tuesday when police responding to the emergency call found the bodies at his apartment.

Nicholson, 27, has been charged with first-degree murder, murder committed during another felony and child abuse, Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy said.

"The alleged facts in this case have affected even the most seasoned prosecutors in this office," Worthy said in a written statement. "We stand ready to bring this case to justice in a court of law."

The victims, 15-month-old Ella Stafford and 13-month old Jonathon Sanderlin, were scalded and had drowned, according to autopsies. They will be buried Saturday.

Nicholson was scheduled to be arraigned before noon today. It was not immediately known if he had a lawyer.

Allen Park police said they got a 911 call from Nicholson shortly after 2 a.m. Tuesday. Besides discovering the bodies in the ground-level apartment, officers found the carpeted hallway and a nearby laundry room soaked with water. Crib pieces and mattresses were seized.

The children had different mothers. Neither woman lived with Nicholson.

ALLEN PARK, Mich. A suburban Detroit man declared, "I didn't hurt my babies," after he was arraigned on murder charges Friday in the drowning deaths of his two toddlers.

Steven Nicholson was so distraught he could barely say his name as he stood in court just a few hours after prosecutors filed charges in the deaths of 15-month-old Ella Stafford and 13-month-old Johnathan Sanderlin, whose bodies were discovered in Nicholson's apartment.

Nicholson, 27, called 911 about 2:30 a.m. Tuesday to say the children had drowned.

When officers arrived, Nicholson was sitting on the floor with the bodies in front of him, Allen Park police Detective Jeff Miller told a judge.

Nicholson told police he woke up and found the kids in the bathtub but his statements are "inconsistent with evidence found at the scene," Miller said without elaborating.

Nicholson is charged with first-degree murder, murder committed during another felony and child abuse. Autopsies determined the toddlers were scalded. A not-guilty plea was entered.

"I didn't hurt my babies. I didn't hurt 'em. I was sleeping," Nicholson said as he was taken back to jail with his hands cuffed behind his back.

Family members in the gallery told him they loved him. "I know, baby," a woman replied when Nicholson declared his innocence.

Defense lawyers typically aren't present at initial court hearings. It was not immediately clear if Nicholson had an attorney yet.

The children have different mothers, and neither lived with Nicholson. They were not in the courtroom.

In a written statement, Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy said the allegations had "affected even the most seasoned prosecutors in this office."

Funerals for Ella and Johnathan were scheduled for Saturday 200 miles apart. Johnathan will be buried in Osceola County in northwestern Michigan.

Reached at a funeral home in Cadillac, a woman who identified herself as Johnathan's aunt said the family had no comment on the murder charges. A message seeking comment was left for Ella's mother, Tayler Stafford, at a funeral home in Allen Park.

The Cadillac News quoted Johnathan's mother, Sarah McGee, as saying she suspected Nicholson was abusing the children and had informed Allen Park police. Asked for comment, Miller acknowledged she visited with officers, but he declined further comment.

Police released records to The Associated Press showing officers went to Nicholson's apartment at least four times, including three in September.

"No signs of physical abuse ... food in fridge," an officer said after the last visit, Sept. 24.

McGee said she saw Johnathan last weekend.

"I kissed him, and I said goodbye," she told the Cadillac newspaper.

[Lady Cop]

he says he was sleeping, history of alcohol abuse. he had custody. the mothers were not in court.

what horror.

[Duchess]

Let me preface this by saying, I am not defending him.

They've charged him with first degree murder, they say this was premeditated. I don't believe that. I don't think he planned to kill those children.

[Lady Cop]

i don't think he premeditated either, in the way many think premeditation is meant.
BUT the law says you can premeditate, INTEND murder, in a couple seconds.
i think it's a sad tragic horrible case of he was fucked up and doesn't even remember what happened. those poor beautiful babies suffered and his life is over also.

[Lady Cop]

From The Detroit News
Family, friends mourn toddlers in bathtub deaths

Quiet and constant sobbing could be heard during the funeral service in Allen Park today for 15-month-old Ella Grace Stafford.

A service for Ella's 13-month-old half-brother Jonathon Sanderlin was held today in Cadillac. The toddlers drowned early Tuesday morning in their father's bathtub in his Allen Park apartment. Evidence shows the children were scalded with hot water, authorities said.

In the dimly lit chapel, mourners consoled one another as family members and friends paid tearful tributes to the little girl described as intelligent, curious, happy and unafraid to explore life. Stuffed animals rested beside her with Elmo of "Sesame Street" closest to her face in a casket flanked by bright pink flowers and handmade photo collages on easels.

Her mother, Tayler Stafford, was inconsolable.

"That was her first and only child," said family friend Cyndi Dowling. "Tayler's crying so much that I don't think she can cry anymore."

Steven Nicholson, 27, had partial custody of Ella and full custody of Jonathon. When police arrived at Nicholson's garden-level unit at Spring Valley Apartments, the children's bodies were lying on the floor in front of him.

Though he told authorities during his arraignment Friday that he had fallen asleep the night of the incident, some believe otherwise.

"I don't think it was an accident," said Kimberly Whitley, a friend of Ella's maternal grandmother Windy Moritz.

Dowling agrees.

"Steve treated Little Cash (Jonathon) like he was a responsibility, not a son," she said. "And if it were one baby, it might be plausible that it was an accident, but not two babies."

Several of Nicholson's family members were in court Friday at his arraignment. One woman cried out, "We know you didn't do it."

In Cadillac, Jonathon's body was surrounded by family and friends still trying to wrap their heads around the tragedy.

Acknowledging the injustice of the death, the Rev. Steven LaLone said, "We can't deal with the sin of another man's heart. But as you look for answers, and as some of you seek justice, also remember to seek the Lord."

The boy's casket was surrounded by stuffed animals, toys, books, photos of the smiling baby, and a card hand made by Jonathon's sister, Sydney McGee.

Prior to the service at the funeral home, Jonathon's mother, Sarah McGee, wept as she leaned over the casket and told her son "I love you. I'm so sorry. I tried."

McGee lost custody of her son in May to Nicholson after a judge accused McGee of kidnapping Jonathon, McGee has said.

Nicholson faces six felony charges including two felony murder counts, two first-degree murder counts and two first-degree child abuse counts. The murder charges are punishable by up to life in prison without parole. The child-abuse counts carry penalties of up to 15 years.

He has been in police custody since the drowning incident and will remain in Wayne County Jail pending a Nov. 1 preliminary examination of evidence in the case.