Father of Twin Toddlers Who Died in Hot Car Breaks Silence on Tragedy

A grieving father has spoken out following the tragic death of his twin daughters, who were found in the backseat of a hot car.

On Thursday, September 5th, the Norman Police Department responded to a welfare check in Norman, Oklahoma. Officers arrived at a neighborhood near West Brooks Street and Flood Avenue around 3 p.m. local time and found a car stopped in the street. Upon further inspection, they discovered the lifeless bodies of two-year-old twins, Ariel and Avery, who had been accidentally left inside the vehicle for an "extended period."

According to News 4, the twins' parents had entrusted them to a family member, who was supposed to drop them off at daycare. 

Ariel and Avery were just two years old (GoFundMe)

Unfortunately, the family member forgot, and by the time they realized the children were still in the car, it was too late. The temperature on that day reached a sweltering 90°F.

The twins' father, Marshall Suter, was at work when he was informed of the devastating news by police later that night. Speaking to the Daily Mail, Suter shared, "I didn’t know anything until 11:15 p.m. on September 5th when the police told me in person that they had 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 be the hardest thing ever, and I lost two. I don’t think I’ll ever be okay again."

The twins with their dad, Marshall Suter (GoFundMe)

The family has been overwhelmed with grief, and tributes have been pouring in for Ariel and Avery. They have asked for privacy during this difficult 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."

A GoFundMe campaign has been created by Marshall Suter's cousin, Kourtnee Usey, to help cover the funeral costs. "All funds will be used to give these precious little babies the funeral they deserve and to 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 circumstances surrounding the twins' deaths is ongoing.