Twin infants found dead in hot car in New York, father says he forgot them while at work

A father has been charged in the deaths of infant twins who were apparently left in a car for hours while he put in a day at work.

New York City police announced early Saturday that 39-year-old Juan Rodriguez was charged with two counts each of manslaughter and criminally negligent homicide. Police said Rodriguez discovered Phoenix and Mariza Rodriguez in the back seat of his Honda around 4 p.m. in the Bronx.

Investigators believe Rodriguez had parked the car Friday morning around 8 a.m. near his workplace, Fordham Manor VA Hospital, according to WABC, which meant that the babies were in the car for about eight hours.

He told police that he dropped one of his children, a three-year-old, at home and then drove to work and forgot the twins were in their rear-facing car seats when he parked, the local station reported.

It appears he drove for about two blocks after leaving work before realizing the children were in the back seat and frantically summoned help.

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Authorities found Rodriguez with his car near the intersection of West Kingsbridge Road and Kingsbridge Terrace, WNBC reported. A source with the FDNY told WNBC that the children were foaming at the mouth when they arrived.

First responders tried to perform CPR but the 1-year-old twins were pronounced dead at the scene.

A cause of death hasn't yet been determined.

It's unclear whether Rodriguez has a lawyer to speak on his behalf.

Contributing: Associated Press. Follow Adrianna Rodriguez on Twitter: @AdriannaUSAT.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Twin babies found dead in hot car, father forgot them while at work