Autopsies conducted Friday determined the children died from multiple blunt trauma wounds and burns, according to the Wayne County Medical Examiner's Office, which declared their deaths homicides. Charges had not yet been filed Friday in the children's deaths.
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Blair's two surviving children, an 8-year-old boy and 17-year-old girl, are living with Gordon. Gordon, a former Detroit police child abuse investigator, said in a telephone interview earlier Friday that she understands questions about why she didn't see signs of abuse.
"It's a valid question; I would ask that myself," said Gordon, who retired from the police force eight years ago, after 26 years.
Gordon said she cared for her niece's children for years, but finally issued an ultimatum: "I told her she needed to start taking care of her family," she said. That caused Blair to cut off contact, Gordon said.
Gordon said she "knew there had been some abuse going on, but not at that level."