No Indictment vs NYC Dad in Twins' Hot Car Deaths -- for Now
The Bronx district attorney's office has opted not to put the case of a father accused of leaving his 1-year-old twins in a hot car for eight hours, killing them, before a grand jury at this time, sending the tearful man home for now.
Juan Rodriguez had faced two counts of manslaughter and two counts of negligent homicide in the death of his babies, whom he said he forgot in the car after "blanking out" when he went to work last week. The 39-year-old social worker sobbed in court when he initially pleaded not guilty to two counts -- and broke into tears -- and prayers -- yet again in court on Thursday.
It wasn't immediately clear what prompted the Bronx district attorney's office's preliminary decision not to present the case to a grand jury at this time, but News 4 was told the grand jury investigation is ongoing. The case has been adjourned until the end of August.
Rodriguez had been out on bail since the devastating deaths of his twins -- and his wife was among those who immediately rushed to his defense.
According to a criminal complaint, Rodriguez told investigators "I blanked out, my babies are dead, I killed my babies."
The twins, Phoenix and Luna, who had recently celebrated their first birthday, were left in the car at an employee lot at Fordham Manor VA Hospital from 8 a.m. until 4 p.m. Friday, police said. Their bodies were 108 degrees when they were found, the medical examiner said.
The twin’s mother, Marissa Rodriguez, asked for privacy so the couple could "grieve, be strong, and be present for our other children."
Marissa, spoke out Sunday saying she was grieving, completely devastated and in disbelief.
"Though I am hurting more than I ever imagined possible, I still love my husband," she said in a statement. "He is a good person and great father and I know he would've never done anything to hurt our children intentionally."
There's an average of 38 heat-related deaths of children locked in cars nationwide per year, according to kidsandcars.org, a website that tracks the deaths. It says as of July 16, there had been 21 this year.
Photo Credit: Handout
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