BYRON TOWNSHIP, MI — A homecoming that should have been marked by rest and reunion has instead left the Kent County community in a state of profound, collective mourning. Authorities have identified the victims of a heartbreaking accidental carbon monoxide poisoning as 38-year-old Nicole Marie Moore and her 16-year-old daughter, Kyli Grace Dodge. The mother and daughter were discovered unresponsive in their vehicle on Tuesday afternoon, victims of a “silent killer” that turned a routine moment of rest into a lethal encounter.

The tragedy, which unfolded at the Maplewood Mobile Home Park, has devastated the family of Bobby and Linda Fillipo, Nicole’s grandparents, and left neighbors grappling with the sudden loss of two “warm and cherished” souls. As investigators from the Kent County Sheriff’s Office and the Byron Township Fire Department work to document the mechanical failures that led to this catastrophe, the focus remains on supporting Nicole’s surviving children and honoring a bond between mother and daughter that remained unbroken until the very end.

---

A Fatal Discovery: 2,000 PPM of a “Silent Killer”

The nightmare began at approximately 2:30 p.m. on Tuesday, March 24, 2026. Deputies from the Kent County Sheriff’s Office were dispatched to a residence within the Maplewood Mobile Home Park following reports of a suspicious vehicle and a “heavy smell of exhaust fumes.” Upon arrival, responders discovered Nicole and Kyli inside their Honda SUV.

The scene was one of grim and immediate danger. Firefighters utilizing specialized detection equipment measured carbon monoxide (CO) levels inside the vehicle at an astounding 2,000 parts per million (PPM). To put the lethality of that environment into perspective, safety protocols mandate the immediate evacuation of buildings at just 35 PPM. At 2,000 PPM, carbon monoxide becomes rapidly fatal, often overcoming victims before they are even aware of a struggle.

The Kent County Medical Examiner’s Office has since confirmed that both Nicole and Kyli died from carbon monoxide asphyxiation. Investigators believe the pair, exhausted from a long-distance trip, likely fell asleep while the engine was running, unaware that a mechanical “death trap” was forming around them.

The Mechanical Failure: A Faulty Exhaust and Worn Floorboards

In the wake of the tragedy, heartbreaking details regarding the condition of the SUV have come to light. Family members revealed to investigators that the vehicle’s exhaust system was known to be faulty. Furthermore, the SUV’s floorboards were in poor condition, providing a direct and unobstructed path for the odorless, colorless gas to seep from the undercarriage into the cabin.

“It was a perfect storm of mechanical failure,” one investigator noted. “When a vehicle is stationary and the exhaust system is compromised, the gas has nowhere to go but up. In a vehicle with compromised floorboards, the cabin fills with CO in a matter of minutes. It is a silent, invisible, and absolute tragedy.”

The Victims: Nicole and Kyli, A Bond of Love and Kindness

Nicole Marie Moore was a woman defined by her “loving and caring” nature. At 38, she was the devoted mother of several children, a woman who prioritized her family above all else. Her daughter, 16-year-old Kyli Grace Dodge, was a vibrant young woman known for her “kindness and the joy she brought to everyone she met.”

The pair had just returned to Michigan in the early morning hours Tuesday after a trip to Tennessee. They had arrived at the home of Nicole’s grandparents, Bobby and Linda Fillipo, seeking a place to rest after the long drive. Their decision to step back out into the SUV—perhaps for a moment of private conversation or a quick nap—ended in a “senseless theft of two beautiful lives.”

“Nicole and Kyli were inseparable,” a family friend shared in a tearful social media tribute. “They had this warmth that you just felt when you were near them. Kyli was so full of life, so bright. To lose them both at once, and in such a cruel, accidental way, is a pain that Kent County is going to feel for a long time.”

A Community Standing in the Gap

As news of the passing of Nicole and Kyli spread through Byron Township and the larger Grand Rapids area, a massive outpouring of “love, prayers, and support” has centered on the surviving family members. The focus of the community has shifted toward providing for Nicole’s other children, who now face a future without their mother and sister.

The Kent County Sheriff’s Office has taken the unusual step of encouraging anyone impacted by this tragedy or in need of support to call 211, connecting them with local crisis resources and grief counseling. Neighbors at the Maplewood Mobile Home Park have begun a small memorial of flowers and candles, a “silent vigil” for the mother and daughter who were taken far too soon.

The Investigation: Lessons in Vehicle Safety

While the Sheriff’s Office and the Byron Township Fire Department have largely concluded their physical investigation of the vehicle, the case remains a “somber reminder” for all motorists. Authorities are using this tragedy to urge the public to have exhaust systems inspected regularly, especially in older vehicles or those with visible undercarriage wear.

“We cannot stress enough the importance of CO detectors, even in non-traditional spaces,” a fire official stated. “And never, under any circumstances, should a vehicle be left running while the occupants are sleeping, particularly if there is any suspicion of an exhaust leak.”

Honoring Their Memory

As the Fillipo and Moore families prepare for the “unimaginable task” of a double funeral, they are leaning on the “cherished memories” of the love and laughter Nicole and Kyli shared. Their lives were a testament to the power of a mother-daughter bond—a connection that even a tragedy of this magnitude cannot truly sever.

Though their “voices have fallen silent,” the impact of their kindness remains a “radiant light” in the hearts of those who knew them. May their souls find “eternal peace,” and may their family find the strength to carry on in the love they left behind.

Rest in peace, Nicole and Kyli. You were loved beyond measure, and you will never be forgotten.