This archive report was first published on 27 July 2019.
On a sweltering summer day, a father's decision to leave his twin babies in a parked car in the Bronx proved fatal. The incident occurred on Friday, July 26, 2019, in the University Heights section of the Bronx.
The 39-year-old father, who was later taken into custody for questioning, left the 1-year-old boy and girl inside the parked silver Honda Accord in the morning and reported for his job at the James J. Peters V.A. Medical Center, according to the police.
Hours later, he returned to the car, drove a short distance, and realized the babies were inside. He jumped out and screamed. A passer-by called the police at about 4 p.m., and officers arrived to find both infants dead.
The Administration for Children's Services had issued a warning just days earlier, urging parents to be careful about leaving their children in cars during the heat wave. The city's warning came too late for Mariza and Phoenix Rodriguez of Rockland County.
Each year, an average of 38 children die of heatstroke after being left in locked cars, according to kidsandcars.org, a nonprofit focused on preventing death and injury to children and pets from vehicles.
As the police investigated, a memorial began to take shape at the intersection. People who live nearby expressed anger and frustration, with some questioning how such a tragedy could have occurred.
