A father’s worst nightmare became reality when Marshall Suter, the father of two-year-old twins Ariel and Avery, learned that his daughters had tragically passed away after being left in a hot car. The devastating incident occurred in Norman, Oklahoma, on Thursday, September 5th, and has since left the family shattered and searching for answers.
Marshall, now living with an unimaginable loss, has spoken publicly about the heartbreak of losing his beloved daughters and the overwhelming grief that followed.
The Norman Police Department responded to a welfare check on Thursday afternoon and made a grim discovery: Ariel and Avery had been left inside a vehicle for an extended period. Authorities arrived at the scene around 3 PM, where both twins were tragically pronounced dead. According to a police statement, the initial investigation indicates the children were accidentally left in the vehicle and later found by family members.
The incident is believed to have been a tragic oversight by a trusted family member who was responsible for taking the twins to daycare that day but, for reasons unknown, forgot about them. With temperatures soaring past 90 degrees Fahrenheit, the conditions inside the car became deadly for the young girls.
Marshall Suter has since shared the devastating moment he learned of his daughters’ deaths. Speaking with Daily Mail, Marshall revealed that he wasn’t informed of the tragedy until later that night at 11:15 PM, when the police personally broke the news to him.
“My heart’s been a wreck ever since,” Marshall said, opening up about the unimaginable pain he has been enduring. He paid tribute to his daughters, describing them as the “brightest and best twins the world could’ve had.”
“They were loved by everyone in the family. They did everything together, from the hugs to the kisses to the laughs. Their love was the most pure I had ever felt. And I won’t be able to feel that again,” he added.
Marshall’s emotional words capture the depth of his grief, particularly as he wrestles with the pain of losing not just one child, but both of his precious twins. “No day will ever be the same. Our hearts are shattered. Losing a child might be the hardest thing ever, and I lost two. I don’t think I’ll ever be okay again,” he lamented.
The incident has shaken not just the family but the entire community, as many express shock and sorrow over the tragedy. While some have expressed their support, there have been instances of hateful comments directed at the family, prompting relatives to speak out.
One family member told KFOR, “This is truly tragic and has been very hard on the family involved, especially where hateful comments are concerned. I hope this will at least show people that it wasn’t intentional and truly an accident.”
The family has asked for peace during this incredibly difficult time, stressing that it was an unintentional mistake with devastating consequences.
Despite the unimaginable loss, authorities have indicated that they do not currently recommend any charges for those involved in the tragic oversight. Sarah Schettler, a representative of the Norman Police Department, explained to KOCO 5 that the investigation suggests the situation was a tragic accident.
“We would have had to determine that there was probable cause indicating willful negligence directly linking them to the death of those children, and at this time, the investigation is just showing us that it’s far more an accident,” Schettler said.
The police have confirmed that the family is cooperating fully with the investigation, and while an autopsy is still pending, the preliminary investigation points toward the extreme heat inside the vehicle as the primary cause of death.
In the wake of the tragedy, Marshall’s cousin, Kourtnee Usey, set up a GoFundMe page on behalf of the family to help cover the costs of the funeral and ease some of the financial burdens on the grieving father. The fundraiser has already surpassed its $8,000 goal, raising over $12,435 at the time of writing.
In her heartfelt message on the GoFundMe page, Kourtnee expressed the devastation the family is enduring: “Marshall received the most traumatic news any parent could ever receive. All funds will be used to give these precious little babies the funeral they deserve, and take some weight off of this father’s shoulders after dealing with such a tragic and heartbreaking loss.”
Kourtnee’s words echoed the sentiments of many others who have reached out to the family, offering support during this dark and difficult time.
This tragic incident highlights the dangers of leaving children unattended in hot vehicles, even for a short period. According to KidsAndCars.org, on average, 39 children die from heatstroke every year after being left in hot cars. The internal temperature of a car can rise rapidly, becoming life-threatening in mere minutes. The organization emphasizes that even on a relatively mild day, the temperature inside a vehicle can reach dangerous levels, putting children at extreme risk.
Authorities and child safety advocates urge all caregivers to adopt preventative measures to ensure that children are never forgotten in cars. Simple strategies like placing a personal item, such as a phone or purse, in the back seat, setting reminders on your phone, or implementing child car seat alarms can all help prevent these avoidable tragedies.
As the investigation continues and the family makes arrangements to lay Ariel and Avery to rest, they are left with an unimaginable void in their lives. Marshall’s public tribute to his daughters reminds us all of the fragility of life and the devastating impact of accidents like these.
In Marshall’s words, “Mom and Dad love their baby girls. No day will ever be the same.” The pain of losing two children is a burden no parent should ever have to bear, but the outpouring of support from the community, both near and far, provides a glimmer of hope that the family will not have to face this journey alone.
This tragic story serves as both a heartbreaking reminder and a call to action, urging everyone to remain vigilant when it comes to child safety, particularly in vehicles.
