‘No one wins in this family tragedy’ – NY dad breaks down in court, hearing how his babies’ body temperatures reached 108 degrees while they were left in boiling hot car for 8 hours on Friday – Juan Rodriguez facing two counts of manslaughter in the deaths of his twins, was released on $100,000 bond
New York Social worker dad wailed in agony in court Saturday, as prosecutors detailed how his babies bodies each reached a temperature of 108F, leading to their deaths
A disconsolate Juan Rodriguez was charged with manslaughter over the deaths of his one-year-old twins on friday, abandoned in the back seat of his car while he went in to work in The Bronx, NY on Friday
Saturday morning, military veteran Juan Rodriguez has pled not guilty to manslaughter and criminally negligent homicide over the deaths of his one-year-old twins Luna and Phoenix
Rodriguez, 39, now a social worker, accidentally left the babies in the back seat of his car on Friday while he worked an eight hour shift at the James J. Peters VA Medical Center
He returned to discover the children dead and ‘foaming at the mouth’
He posted a $100,000 bond and was released from custody on Saturday evening, walking into the embrace of his wife Marissa, his mother and 50 other family members who came to lend support
The couple have three older children
A disconsolate Juan Rodriguez wailed in agony as prosecutors detailed how his babies bodies each reached a temperature of 108F, leading to their deaths
The New York City father whose one-year-old twins died after he accidentally left them inside his hot car has collapsed into the arms of his wife following his release from prison on bail.
Juan Rodriguez, 39, was seen weeping as he hugged his spouse Marissa outside Bronx Criminal Court on Saturday after posting a $100,000 bond.
The social worker and Iraq War veteran has been charged with two counts of manslaughter and two counts of criminally negligent homicide over the deaths of his daughter Luna and son Phoenix.
He has entered not guilty pleas on all counts.
Rodriguez reportedly forgot to drop the twins off at daycare on Friday morning, leaving them to swelter in the back of his Honda Accord for eight hours while he was working at the James J. Peters VA Medical Center in The Bronx.
He found the babies dead and ‘foaming at the mouth’ shortly after he finished his shift and returned to his vehicle at 4pm.
The social worker has been charged with manslaughter and criminally negligent homicide after accidentally leaving his one-year-old twins to die inside his hot car in The Bronx on Friday. Juan Rodriguez, [left], was seen weeping as he hugged his wife Marissa outside Bronx Criminal Court on Saturday after posting a $100,000 bond.
Very much the family man, Juan Rodriguez is seen here with his wife Marissa, their twins Luna and Phoenix, as well as their other children in a recent family photo
Juan Rodriguez seen leaving police station and hugging family. The bereaved dad was clearly overwhelmed as he embraced his wife and his mother after being released on a $100,000 bond
Rodriguez reportedly parked his Honda Accord [photo], at the Veterans Hospital where he worked shortly after 8am on Friday. He allegedly forgot his twins were sitting on the back seat
Police covered the silver Honda Accord with a white sheet and scaffolding as they conducted their investigation
On Saturday, close to 50 relatives turned out to support a devastated Rodriguez during his first court appearance.
The father was clad in a turquoise t-shirt and jeans – the same outfit he wore to work on Friday.
Rodriguez, who has three older children, wailed in agony as prosecutors detailed how the twins’ bodies each reached a temperature of 108 degrees Fahrenheit.
Temperatures in New York City reached 86 degrees Fahrenheit on Friday.
‘This is a tragedy of horrific proportions,’ Rodriguez’s defense attorney Joey Jackson told the judge as his client sobbed beside him.
The lawyer later held a press conference with Rodriguez’s wife, Marissa, who brought along the couple’s four-year-old child to the hearing.
‘He was inconsolable, and he is still trying to come to terms with the horrific nature of this crime,’ Jackson said Saturday.
Rodriguez’s mother was one of the family members who turned out to the hearing -and was clearly anguished by the loss of her two grandchildren.
Waiting for court proceedings to commence, she broke out in loud, hysterical sobs, Rodriguez’s mother, Cathelina Valerio, cried out, “Mis nietos! Mis nietos!” — my grandchildren in spanish, as she hugged a male family member.
“Do you know what I’m scared of?” she told The Post. “When he gets out, he can’t handle it. He’s going to need help.”
![Juan Rodriguez and his defense attorney Joey Jackson [right] 1](https://i0.wp.com/konniemoments.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/Juan-Rodriguez-and-his-defense-attorney-Joey-Jackson-right-1.jpg?resize=620%2C484&ssl=1)
An accident where no one wins: ‘This is a tragedy of horrific proportions,’ Rodriguez’s defense attorney Joey Jackson [right], told the judge as his client sobbed beside him. ‘Do you know what I’m scared of? When he gets out, he can’t handle it. He’s going to need help,’ his mother said Saturday. Rodriguez appeared in court was clad in a turquoise t-shirt and jeans – the same outfit he wore to work on Friday.
![Marissa Rodriguez and hier husband's defense attorney Joey Jackson [right] 1](https://i0.wp.com/konniemoments.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/Marissa-Rodriguez-and-hier-husbands-defense-attorney-Joey-Jackson-right-1.jpg?resize=620%2C605&ssl=1)
Though left dealing with the tragic death of her twin babies, Marissa Rodriguez seen [left], with family’s attorney Joey Jackson remains by her husband’s side. The couple also have three older children
According to a police report, Rodriguez returned to his car minutes before 4pm on Friday and was driving for around 10 minutes before he realized his babies were in the backseat and pulled over.
After making the tragic discovery, the father reportedly burst into screams which attracted the attention of a bystander who quickly called 911.
‘I assumed I dropped them off at day care before I went to work,’ Rodriguez reportedly told cops who arrived at the scene.
‘I blanked out! I My babies are dead! I killed my babies!’ he allegedly wailed.
Meanwhile, shocked neighbors have described Rodriguez as a devoted father.
In addition to the three children he shared with wife Marissa, he has two older children from a previous marriage.
‘He was always doing things with the kids,’ a neighbor recalls.
‘Always in the yard playing. They had a big camp-out last weekend, with tents in the backyard. He would always play catch or basketball with his older kid.’
A family friend similarly told The New York Post that Rodriguez is ‘an amazing guy’.
‘He’s always been there for his kids. Always. This is just a horrible situation,’ the pal said.
Facebook photos show Rodriguez as a devoted family man who was frequently pictured doting on the twins.
Shocked neighbors have described Rodriguez as a devoted father. The doting dad is seen with twins Luna and Phoenix in a Facebook photo taken last year
Rodriguez a father-of-five reportedly forgot to drop off his youngest, one-year-old twins Luna and Phoenix [photo], at daycare on Friday morning, leaving them to die in the back of his Honda Accord on an extremely hot New York day
Happy expectant parents Juan and Marissa Rodriguez last years, prior to the birth of their twins Luna and Phoenix
They are here! Rodriguez is pictured with his wife Marissa, and other children shortly after the births of new additions, Luna and Phoenix in 2018
Police covered the silver Honda Accord with a white sheet and scaffolding as they conducted their investigation. They charged him with manslaughter and criminally negligent homicide early on Saturday morning
One image shows the social worker peacefully sleeping with the babies lying on his chest shortly after their births.
Rodriguez served as a soldier in Iraq, and worked to support fellow veterans at the James J. Peters VA Medical Center where he was employed as a social worker.
His clients include homeless, disabled, and HIV positive veterans, according to his lawyer.
Devoted family man Juan Rodriguez is an Iraq War veteran who now works works as a social worker helping others who have served in the armed forces. He is pictured here in his military uniform with Marissa and their older children
Leave a Reply