No Case Yet Against New City Dad In Hot-Car Deaths: News

The Bronx district attorney has delayed taking the case of the New City resident who forgot his babies in the back seat when he went to work before a grand jury, according to news reports. That doesn't mean the criminal investigation isn't still active, WABC reported.

Juan Rodriguez, 39, of New City, cried during his court appearance Thursday, WABC said. He faces charges of manslaughter and criminally negligent homicide.

Police said Rodriguez told them he had forgotten the babies were there after he dropped an older child off at a Westchester home. He discovered them when he began driving home from work at the VA medical center in the Bronx eight hours later. He dialed 911. Police said he was screaming, WABC reported.

His lawyer, Joey Jackson, told reporters he is talking with the DA's office about the tragedy.

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Friends described Rodriguez, a disabled veteran who fought in Iraq, as an honest and hard-working man who now has to deal with the same type of traumatic loss that he has helped others cope with. Their GoFundMe page on behalf of the family they described as "devastated" has reached $89,637 of its $100,000 goal.

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