On Oct. 25, 2015 at about 1:46 p.m., Romulus Police and Fire Fighters responded to a structure fire with children trapped inside at 15037 Mountainway St., Romulus.
On arrival, the apartment was fully engulfed in flames. Subsequently a 1-year-old child, Malaya Tatnall, was found dead. The mother had reportedly left the children alone.
On Monday, Dec. 21, 2015, the child’s mother, Shavonne Lynise Watkins, 33, was arraigned before Judge David Parrott in 34th District Court in Romulus on the following charges:
Count 1 — Homicide-Manslaughter-Involuntary
Count 2 — Child Abuse-2nd degree
Judge Parrott set a $10,000 bond and she paid it so she could spend Christmas with the rest of her children. A preliminary exam on the charges was set for Jan. 6 at 34th District Court.