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Tenia Campbell, 24, of Medford, was charged with murdering the two girls, Jasmine and Jaida, after the children were found Thursday afternoon, June 27 in the family minivan at the entrance to Montauk County Park Third House Nature Center by East Hampton Town Police officers using her phone's GPS.
Campbell was located standing on Montauk Highway screaming for the police to shoot her, said the Suffolk County Police during a press conference on Friday, June 28.
There was no outward sign of trauma to their bodies, police said. Police are awaiting autopsies and toxicology reports to determine a cause of death. The woman's 4-year-old son was found safe in the care of his father.
The search for the home health care aid and girls began after Campbell's mother called 911 to report that her daughter was threatening to kill herself and the twins. Campbell then joined in the call in a three-way call that lasted more than 12 minutes, police said.
During the call, the hysterical mother told the dispatcher that she had already killed the girls, police said.
The call kicked off a massive manhunt for the minivan and Campbell that included officers from the Suffolk County Police Department, assisted by the New York State Police, Suffolk County Park Rangers, Southampton Town Police, the East Hampton Town Police, and the U.S Coast Guard.
When officers found the minivan, the girls were in cardiac arrest and after attempting life-saving efforts, were rushed to a hospital where they were pronounced dead.
Campbell, who was taken into custody without incident, was transported to East Hampton Town Police Headquarters and charged by Suffolk County Homicide Squad detectives with two counts of second-degree murder. She was held overnight at the East Hampton Town Police Headquarters and will be arraigned at East Hampton Town Justice Court on Friday, June 28.
This continues to be a developing story. Check back to Daily Voice for updates.
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