Twin toddlers die after being left in hot car in NYC; dad charged with manslaughter

NEW YORK — Two children died Friday in New York City after being left in a parked car all day, authorities said.

The father of the 1-year-old children is in custody and charged with manslaughter and criminally negligent homicide, WCBS reported.

The children, identified as Mariza and Phoenix Rodriguez, were found by their father in the back seat of his Honda in a Bronx neighborhood Friday afternoon, according to WNBC. Juan Rodriguez, 39, left for work from his Rockland County home Friday morning and the twins were strapped into the back seat of the car, WCBS reported.

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Juan Rodriguez told police he dropped off his 3-year-old child at a home in Westchester and then drove to the Fordham Manor VA Medical Center in the Bronx, arriving around 8 a.m., WABC reported. The man told police he forgot the twins were in their rear-facing car seats when he parked, the television station reported.

Juan Rodriguez returned to his car after 4 p.m. and drove away, but told police he soon discovered the two infants unconscious and foaming at the mouth, WCBS reported.

Rodriguez called 911, but both children were pronounced dead at the scene, the television station reported.

Cox Media Group