Mother of twin toddlers left in hot car defends father

CARROLLTON, Ga. - A Carrollton man faces criminal charges in connection with the deaths of his twin 15-month-old toddlers who were left in a hot car Thursday afternoon, police said. Asa North, 24, is charged with two counts of involuntary manslaughter and two counts of reckless conduct. Police said they did not believe the deaths were intentional.

Carrollton Police responded to a 911 call along Tillman Drive about two toddlers who were found unresponsive Thursday. Police said they witnessed their father frantically trying to cool the little girls down in a kiddie pool. Neighbors told police they brought ice packs to put in the pool to help.

The girls, identified as Ariel North and Alaynah North, were taken to Tanner Medical Center, where they were pronounced dead.

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"They were blessing from God... Wish they were still here... My biggest blessing. I love them to death. They were amazing," Breal Ellis, the mother of the twins said fighting back tears.

Ellis said their lives on this earth were short, but in that amount of time, they were loved.

“They were amazing. They were always happy. They smiled every day... I don’t know... I don’t know,” Ellis said.

Police said as this was happening, the girls' mother was at Grady Memorial Hospital in Atlanta visiting her sister who had been in a serious car accident the previous night. Police said the mother, family and friends arrived at the hospital late Thursday evening.

Police questioned Asa North for much of the night Thursday before charging him early Friday morning. North was taken to the Carroll County Jail following his arrest. Police said he was not drunk at the time,but had been drinking earlier in the day which could have played a role in the incident.

“He’s a great father…  He’s a great father. He just made a mistake,” said Ellis. “He’s very heartbroken... He broke down crying. He know he made a mistake.”

Anyone who wishes to help the family can donate at GoFundMe.com/AlaynahandAriel