In a tragic incident in Oklahoma, twin toddlers lost their lives after being left in a parked car for several hours by a relative who was entrusted with their care. The temperature that day soared above 90 degrees, according to reports. The two-year-old girls, named Ariel and Avery, were discovered lifeless in the vehicle on Thursday when the relative realized they had forgotten to drop them off at their daycare in Norman.
The girls’ father, Marshall Suter, expressed his grief and shock at the sudden loss of his daughters. He described Ariel and Avery as “the best girls the world has ever seen,” and spoke of the deep love and care they received from their family. The pain of their loss, he said, was immeasurable.
Norman police confirmed the girls were pronounced dead at the scene. Preliminary investigations suggest that the children were accidentally left in the car for a prolonged period before being found by family members. The police did not disclose the identity of the relative who had left them in the vehicle.
The investigation into the deaths is ongoing, with the police yet to comment on whether charges will be filed. The day of the incident, temperatures in Norman, a town located west of the University of Oklahoma campus, reached 90 degrees, as per data from the National Weather Service.
The parents had entrusted their children to a family member on that fateful day, according to local news reports. The heartbreaking incident marks the first heat-related car deaths in Oklahoma this year, as reported by Fox Weather.
The official cause of death is yet to be determined by a medical examiner, according to the police. In the meantime, a GoFundMe campaign has been initiated by Kourtney Usey, a cousin of the girls’ father, to assist with funeral expenses and support the parents during this devastating time.
“No one truly knows the pain of losing a child until you are going through it. I know this mom and dad are going through it. We would be so grateful and appreciative of any help received and may God bless you all for your kindness,” Usey wrote on the fundraising page.