The wife of a New York father whose twin babies died after he forget them in his car when he went into work said that she worried he could be become suicidal if he is sentenced to jail.
Juan Rodriguez’s wife Marissa Rodriguez will appear on the “Dr. Phil” show this week, according to the New York Post, which obtained a clip of the television interview.
As CrimeOnline previously reported, twin infants Phoenix Rodriguez and Luna Rodriguez died in July after their 39-year-old father left them in the backseat of his car when he worked a full day’s shift at VA Hospital in the Kingsbridge neighborhood the Bronx. The father reportedly believed he had dropped the twins off at day care, and did not realize they were still in the car until he pulled out of the parking lot at the end of the day.
Juan Rodriguez is facing multiple counts of criminally negligent homicide and manslaughter for the deaths of his twins, and was released on bail shortly after his arrest in late July. His wife reportedly told Dr. Phil that her husband was suicidal after the deaths of his children, and worries that he could become suicidal again if he is sent to jail.
“He still has that, I think, in mind if he were to go to jail over this,” Marissa reportedly said.
“I know that he was in a very dark place in the beginning and I’m grateful that he has understood that we need him, his three children that are here need him.”
The grieving mother also said that while her husband is distraught and deeply apologetic over the deaths, he has not explicitly asked his wife for forgiveness.
“And I say I understand and I love him, but maybe [him saying] those words specifically would be helpful, so we’ll work on that,” she said.
Marissa Rodriguez added that both she and her husband have been “living in our own personal hell” since their babies died.
In late September, Rodriguez rejected a plea deal in the case. According to the most recent information, prosecutors have not yet brought his case to the grand jury.
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[Feature image: The Rodriguez family/GoFundMe]
