Tragedy Unfolds in Maplewood Mobile Home Park After Mother, Daughter Sleep in Car

BYRON TOWNSHIP, Mich. — A Kent County mother and daughter died from carbon monoxide poisoning Tuesday after sleeping in their vehicle at the Maplewood Mobile Home Park, according to authorities.

Deputies found Nicole Moore, 38, and her daughter Kyli Dodge, 16, unresponsive in a car parked outside a home in the community lot around 2:30 p.m. on March 24, the Kent County Sheriff's Office confirmed.

The pair was reported by neighbors who discovered them inside the vehicle at the Maplewood Mobile Home Park off Division Avenue. Investigators believe the two had been dead for several hours by the time they were discovered.

Exhaust Smell Signals Trouble

When first responders arrived on the scene, deputies detected a huge smell of exhaust coming from the vehicle, Kent County Sergeant Scott Dietrich stated.

"It's just one of those things where it was a complete freak accident," Dietrich said. "The vehicle sitting there, running for hours and just let that carbon monoxide seep into the vehicle."

Dietrich noted that when deputies typically respond to similar incidents, a vehicle is often left running in an enclosed space such as a garage. While the car in this case was in the open, investigators said the vehicle's exhaust system was in poor condition and contributed to the dangerous buildup of carbon monoxide inside.

Temporary Housing Due to Home Issues

According to Moore's family, she had returned home early Tuesday morning from a trip to Tennessee. Moore was talking with her daughter about moving when they both fell asleep in the car.

The pair was using the car to sleep in due to an issue with their home in the park, the sheriff's office stated.

Security camera footage determined the vehicle arrived at the park around 3 a.m. Tuesday morning. Investigators believe Moore and Dodge were sleeping in the car as a temporary solution to their housing situation.

Family Devastated by Sudden Loss

Moore's son, Jayden Dodge, expressed his heartbreak in an interview with News Channel 3.

"I still can't believe she's actually gone, my mind wants me to think she is back in the trailer right now," Jayden Dodge said.

Jayden added that his mother always wanted her children to have a better life.

"I will live a better life for my mom, like she would have wanted me too," he said. "I am really going to miss them."

Sheri Dannah, Moore's aunt, shared her grief over the loss of her niece and her nephew's daughter.

"Dodge had a bright future to look forward to and her life was cut too short," Dannah said. "Very sudden, unexpected, this doesn't feel real. She would always ask me to do her hair and I am not going to be able to do that or do her hair for her wedding."

Carbon Monoxide Poisoning Explained

Carbon monoxide poisoning occurs when carbon monoxide builds up in your bloodstream, according to Michigan's Licensing and Regulatory Affairs. When a person breathes in too much CO, their body replaces the oxygen in their red blood cells with carbon monoxide, which can lead to serious tissue damage or even death.

Carbon monoxide is a colorless, odorless, tasteless gas produced by burning gasoline, wood, propane, charcoal or other fuel sources. Improperly ventilated appliances and engines, particularly in a tightly sealed or enclosed space, may allow carbon monoxide to accumulate to dangerous levels.

Investigation Continues

Kent County investigators suspect this could be a case of accidental carbon monoxide poisoning, noting the vehicle's floorboards and exhaust system were in poor condition.

Detectives believe there was no foul play involved in the incident.

As the investigation continues, the Kent County Medical Examiner's Office will conduct autopsies to determine the official cause and manner of death.

Anyone with information related to this incident is asked to contact the sheriff's office at (616) 632-6125 or submit a tip online.

Community Shock

The Maplewood Mobile Home Park community is reeling from the tragic news. Neighbors who reported the unresponsive woman and teenage girl expressed their horror at discovering the deaths.

The case serves as a stark reminder of the dangers of carbon monoxide poisoning, especially when vehicles are left running in enclosed or semi-enclosed spaces, even when parked outside.