The five-year-old twins found dead by their mother in their Bronx home this week were foaming at the mouth and nose and had been sent home from school sick after being “severely” ill and experiencing “strange symptoms.” had shown, the NYPD has revealed.
The siblings, a boy and a girl, were discovered on the floor of their home on Monday morning.
Her death continues to puzzle police, who say there are no signs of crime.
The apartment was well heated and there was plenty of food for the children.
In the weeks before his death, the boy exhibited cold symptoms for about two weeks, including a runny nose and vomiting.
His sister had an ear infection, was vomiting, and was behaving irrationally, including biting and spitting.
Five-year-old twins, a boy and a girl, were found in their Bronx home Monday morning
The children's mother was so desperate that she was taken to a nearby hospital
Despite sufficient heating in the apartment, both children were cold to the touch when their mother found them dead on Monday.
The children's father is a home health aide who urged his wife to take them to the emergency room.
She last saw her alive at 5 a.m. and wanted to take her to the hospital when she woke up, but found her lifeless at 11 a.m.
The coroner's office also told officials there was no evidence of strangulation or bruising on their bodies.
Officers discovered her apartment was filled with food, baby clothes and other necessities. No drugs or similar paraphernalia were found.
In the weeks before his death, the boy exhibited cold symptoms for about two weeks, including a runny nose and vomiting. His sister had an ear infection, was vomiting, and was behaving irrationally, including biting and spitting
Officers discovered her apartment was filled with food, baby clothes and other necessities. No drugs or similar paraphernalia were found
The parents are immigrants from Ghana and the distraught father told the New York Post: “I'm not feeling well.” I lost my two children. Not good.'
According to the NYPD, carbon monoxide poisoning has already been ruled out. The family has no history of domestic calls to police.
According to police sources cited by the Daily News, the children were not feeling well and did not attend school on Monday.
Her mother was so desperate that she was taken to a nearby hospital.
Pastor Randholf Andujar, who runs a food bank on Mondays in the basement of the building where the death occurred, told that a vigil for the twins will be held tonight.
NYPD Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny told reporters that all signs since yesterday pointed to a tragic incident.
According to the NYPD, carbon monoxide poisoning has already been ruled out. The family has no history of domestic calls to police
“By all accounts, the mother was well involved in everything that had to do with these two children,” NYPD Chief Joseph Kenny said at a news conference
“All reports said that mom handled everything that had to do with these two children well,” Kenny said at a news conference.
“She was an active participant in her medical care, an active participant in her schooling.”
“Neighbors say she was in love and they were a quiet, loving family. “Until the coroner says otherwise at this point, it appears to be purely a medical tragedy.”
Neighbor Jenny Rodriguez told NBC, “Every time they saw you, they hugged you. 'It's so heartbreaking.'
NYPD Deputy Chief Benjamin Gurley described the mother as “not injured, but emotionally destroyed.”
A toxicology report is still pending.