Father Charged With Murdering His Two Children

As reported by Click On Detroit in Allen Park, Michigan, Steven Nicholson claims he is not guilty of drowning his 15 month-old daughter, or his 13 month-old son, on October 12.

Nicholson was arraigned in the 24^th District Court in Allentown on October 15.  The charges read by the judge included two counts of first-degree murder, two counts of felony homicide and two counts of child abuse.

A guilty conviction may mean life in prison.

The bodies of Ella Stafford and Jonathan Sanderlin, Nicholson's children, were laid out on the floor in front of him when police officers arrived at his home.  Nicholson clamed to have found his toddlers in the bathtub.

Allen Park police Detective Jeff Miller told the judge what he witnessed at the home and concluded that what Nicholson claimed was, "inconsistent with evidence found at the scene."

Their deaths were ruled as due to drowning and scalding per the Wayne County medical examiner.

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

Ella Stafford's mother, Taylor Stafford, was questioned by Allen Park police about where she was the night of the deaths. Nicholson had reported to police that he was alone with the children when they died, but neighbors told police that they witnessed Taylor Stafford at the home as well, and, fighting with Nicholson earlier that day.

Taylor Stafford claims that she and Nicholson had planned to go to a movie that night but he never called. She then went to bed and found, in the morning, that she had missed a call from him. 

Stafford's call from Nicholson came about the same time the police received his 911 emergency call. Stafford said, "Right now, I'm trying to get them to give me a polygraph test, get my phone numbers, get my phone records. They have permission to do all that."

Sandra Kirby, Nicholson's aunt, told Local 4 about the conversation she had with him shortly after he was taken into police custody.  She said, "He was broken down. He was crying, hysterically crying, and the words he said to me, 'Aunt Sandy, I did not hurt my babies. You know what those babies meant to me' and I do believe him because I seen him with them."

The two children's mothers had been talking, and exchanging e-mails, due to concerns about their children's safety under Nicholson's watch. 

Nicholson had full custody of Jonathan. Jonathan's mother, Sara McGee said, "I've never been through this before. So, my first instinct, because I know Steve Nicholson so well, was that it was done intentionally."

By way of explanation, McGee continued, "We've been fighting so hard to get the babies out of the house, but nobody would listen to us. I've been through the police, I've been through the friend of the court, I've been through Child Protective Services numerous times, and nobody would listen to me.  Even when I brought evidence, they didn't do anything."

Nicholson contends that the children turned the bath water on themselves and must have climbed into the tub. Dawn Hood, Nicholson's cousin said, "He went toward the bathroom to open the door and found his baby girl on the floor and his baby son in the bathtub."

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