Father of twin toddlers found dead in backseat of hot car speaks out on tragedy
A grieving father has spoken out after his twin daughters were found dead in the backseat of a hot car.
Norman Police Department responded to a call for a welfare check in Norman, Oklahoma, on Thursday (5 September).
When officers arrived in the neighborhood near West Brooks St. and Flood Ave. at approximately 3pm local time, they found a car stopped in the street.
Upon further inspection, they found the unresponsive bodies of two-year-old twins Ariel and Avery, who had been accidentally left inside the vehicle for 'an extended period'.
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News 4 reports the twins' parents had left them with a trusted family member, who was supposed to drop the girls off at daycare.
However, that family member apparently forget and before they realized the children were in a boiling hot car, it was too late.
Temperatures reached a staggering 90F on the day Ariel and Avery were left.
Their dad, who was at work when he was contacted by the police to be informed about the tragic news, has now spoken out.
Marshall Suter told the Daily Mail: "I didn’t know anything until 11:15pm on the 5th September and I was told in person by the police that they passed away. My heart's been a wreck ever since.
"They were loved by everyone in the family. They did everything together. From the hugs to the kisses to the laughs. Their love was the most pure I had ever felt. And I won’t be able to feel that again. Mom and dad love their baby girls.
"No day will ever be the same. Our hearts are shattered. Losing a child might have be the hardest thing ever, and I lost two. I don’t think I’ll ever be okay again."
Many tributes have flocked in for Ariel and Avery following their tragic passing, while the family ask for privacy during this time.
Another family member told KFOR: "This is truly tragic and has been very hard on the family involved especially where hateful comments are concerned. I hope this will at least show people that it wasn’t intentional and truly an accident. This family would just like some peace in this difficult and heavy time."
Meanwhile, a GoFundMe to help with funeral costs has since been set up by Kourtnee Usey, the cousin of Marshall Suter.
"All funds will be used to give these precious little babies the funeral they deserve, and take some weight off of this father’s shoulders after dealing with such a tragic and HEARTBREAKING loss," the family relative wrote.
An investigation into the twins' deaths is ongoing.
If you have experienced a bereavement and would like to speak with someone in confidence, contact The Compassionate Friends on (877) 969-0010.
Callum Jones