Teen brothers ignored parents and slept outside Detroit home for months in frigid temps, sparking community concern

A pair of teen brothers slept on the front porch of their Detroit house for months as the temperatures plummeted – despite their parents’ best efforts to get them to come inside.

Mounting concern and questions have swirled around the bizarre situation in which the two siblings wrapped themselves in blankets and sported winter coats as they slept in front of the home.

The sleeping arrangement even led to a local independent journalist stopping by the house two weeks ago to see if they needed help.  

But authorities said on Monday the brothers, ages 12 and 15, chose to sleep outside, and can go inside the home anytime they want, Fox 2 reported.

They weren’t being punished, and their parents have tried to get their children therapy in hopes of convincing them to sleep under their roof, according to the station. The older child is reportedly facing pending assault and battery charges in juvenile court.

“They wanted to sleep out there, that’s what they told neighbors, that’s what they’ve told anybody who tried to help them,” Detroit police commander Rebecca McKay told the station.

“The parents, they don’t want them on the porch, but they are not going to fight and chance getting into a physical altercation a 6-foot-5, 220-pound, 15-year-old,” she added.

The brothers are currently sleeping inside at a family friends’ home, according to the outlet.

Detroit police opened the investigation this month when neighbors started making noise about the confounding situation.

The two started sleeping on the porch over the summer, a neighbor told Fox 2.

“It hurt every night to go to sleep and know these kids are out there,” Kiarra Collins said on Dec. 2.

“In July, it was 80-90 degrees. Now it’s 20 degrees,” she added. “You know what I’m saying? So something needs to be done.”

Well-known independent journalist in the Michigan city, Marc D’Andre, visited the house on Nov. 30 to check on the kids and livestreamed the interaction.

When he asked if they were alright, one of the boys replied, “We’re good.”

The parents are not expected to face any charges following the investigation.