12-15-2023 1:28am

A Long Island mother has admitted guilt in the double murder of her 2-year-old twin daughters.

Samantha Hespos Editor

The minivan where two-year-old twins were found in cardiac arrest in 2019.WNBC

In a heartbreaking case, a Long Island mother has admitted guilt in the murder of her 2-year-old twin daughters. The tragic incident unfolded in June 2019 when the toddlers were suffocated. The mother's guilty plea was confirmed by authorities, marking a somber chapter in this deeply distressing case.

In a solemn legal development, Tenia Campbell, a 28-year-old resident of Medford, New York, entered guilty pleas to two counts of first-degree murder in the state court of Suffolk County. The proceedings took place on Monday, as confirmed by Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney. This significant step in the legal process marks Tenia Campbell's acknowledgment of responsibility in connection to the tragic crime.

On June 27, 2019, a troubling turn of events unfolded as Tenia Campbell, reportedly grappling with suicidal thoughts, drove a minivan with her twin daughters towards the eastern tip of Long Island, as disclosed by the office of Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney.

The distressing incident continued on June 27, 2019, when Tenia Campbell, along with her twin daughters, came to a halt under a tree at the entrance to Montauk County Park Third House Nature Center. This location serves as a poignant backdrop to the unfolding tragedy, marking a grim chapter in the sequence of events.

Amidst the unfolding tragedy, a critical moment occurred when Campbell's mother took decisive action. Concerned for the well-being of the twins, Jasmine and Jaida Campbell, she placed a call to 911. In this distressing call, Campbell's mother conveyed her apprehensions, revealing that her daughter had made threats to kill the twins and herself. This crucial intervention shed light on the gravity of the situation, prompting authorities to respond to the impending crisis.

In response to the urgent call and the gravity of the situation, authorities initiated a comprehensive search effort. This collaborative undertaking involved assistance from local and state police, park rangers, and the Coast Guard, as disclosed by the District Attorney's office. The collective efforts aimed to locate Tenia Campbell and her twin daughters, intensifying the response to the unfolding crisis.

During the critical period, Tenia Campbell was linked to a call involving her mother and authorities, according to prosecutors. Despite the connection, Campbell refrained from disclosing her location. In a resourceful approach, authorities utilized signals from her cellphone to narrow down the search and focus on the whereabouts of the trio, as confirmed by the District Attorney's office.

Approximately one hour and 20 minutes after Campbell's mother initially placed the call, officers from East Hampton Town Police made a crucial breakthrough. They spotted the minivan in question and verified that Tenia Campbell was indeed present with it, marking a pivotal moment in the efforts to locate and address the distressing situation.

According to NBC New York, detailed reports indicate that Tenia Campbell, upon exiting the minivan, approached a nearby roadway and, in a distressing turn of events, instructed the responding officer to "shoot me," as relayed by the police. This alarming interaction added a heightened layer of complexity to the unfolding situation.

In the latest statement released on Monday, the Suffolk County office revealed a chilling scene as the responding officer approached the minivan. Tragically, the officer discovered the lifeless bodies of Campbell's 2-year-old twin daughters in their car seats, providing a grim confirmation of the devastating outcome of the incident.

A somber revelation followed as it was disclosed that Campbell later confessed to smothering her twin daughters to death. When first responders arrived, the girls were reported to be in cardiac arrest.

Despite swift efforts to aid them, they were urgently transported to Stony Brook Southampton Hospital, where, tragically, they were pronounced dead, according to the statement from the Suffolk County office.

In a statement dated July 10, 2019, under the leadership of D.A. Timothy D. Sini, the Suffolk County office conveyed the findings of the county medical examiner. The examiner determined that the twins had succumbed to "homicidal violence consistent with manual asphyxia," shedding light on the tragic circumstances surrounding their untimely deaths.

The gravity of the case deepened as prosecutors revealed that Campbell admitted to police her culpability in the twins' deaths. Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A.

Tierney expressed profound sorrow, stating, "Those two little girls looked to this defendant, their mother, for protection and love. Instead, she executed them." He emphasized the profound sadness and tragedy encapsulated within this deeply distressing case.

If you or someone you know is in crisis, call or text 988 to reach the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline or chat live at 988lifeline.org. You can also visit SpeakingOfSuicide.com/resources for additional support.