Last Updated: Friday, October 22, 2010 | 11:19 AM ET

The Canadian Press

A suburban Detroit father who called 911 to report the drowning deaths of his two small children was charged with first-degree murder Friday, a prosecutor said.

Steven Nicholson has been in custody since Tuesday when police responding to the emergency call found the bodies at his apartment.

Nicholson, 27, has been charged with first-degree murder, murder committed during another felony and child abuse, Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy said. "The alleged facts in this case have affected even the most seasoned prosecutors in this office," Worthy said in a written statement. "We stand ready to bring this case to justice in a court of law."

The victims, 15-month-old Ella Stafford and 13-month old Jonathon Sanderlin, were scalded and had drowned, according to autopsies. They will be buried Saturday.

Nicholson was scheduled to be arraigned before noon EDT Friday. It was not immediately known if he had a lawyer.

Allen Park police said they got a 911 call from Nicholson shortly after 2 a.m. Tuesday. Besides discovering the bodies in the ground-level apartment, officers found the carpeted hallway and a nearby laundry room soaked with water. Crib pieces and mattresses were seized.

The children had different mothers. Neither woman lived with Nicholson.