In a tragic and heart-wrenching case, Tenia Campbell, a 28-year-old mother from Medford, Long Island, pleaded guilty to two counts of first-degree murder on Wednesday, Dec 10.
The charges stem from the suffocation of her 2-year-old twin daughters, Jasmine and Jaida, more than four years ago.
Campbell’s guilty plea comes after a harrowing incident in June 2019 when she was arrested by Suffolk County police.
Responding to a call from Campbell’s mother, who reported her daughter’s threats to kill her twins, authorities found Campbell and her daughters in a parked minivan.
The toddlers were discovered unresponsive and were pronounced dead shortly after being rushed to a nearby hospital.
District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney expressed the profound sadness of the case, stating:
“This is such a sad and tragic case. Those two little girls looked to this defendant, their mother, for protection and love. Instead, she executed them.”
The guilty plea ensures Campbell is set to face a severe sentence of 20 years to life in prison. Reflecting on the case, her attorney, John Halverson, mentioned that Campbell “wanted to put this behind her” and “lives it every day of what her actions were and what she’s done.”
Campbell’s mother initially contacted the police, reporting her daughter’s threats against the twins and her own life.
When police located Campbell’s minivan at Montauk County Park, she resisted arrest and expressed a desire for officers to shoot her.
The victims’ grandmother, in a police statement, revealed that Campbell had a history of mental disorders, depression, bipolar disorder, and anxiety.
The then-4-year-old son of Campbell was in the custody of his father at the time of her arrest.
The tragic case has left a community in mourning and has raised awareness about the complexities surrounding mental health and its intersection with child welfare. Campbell’s sentencing conference is scheduled for January 25, 2024.
In light of this distressing incident, authorities emphasize the importance of mental health awareness and encourage individuals facing crisis to seek help through appropriate channels.
For immediate support, the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline can be reached by dialing 988, or individuals can text “STRENGTH” to the Crisis Text Line at 741741. More information is available at 988lifeline.org.
Those suspecting child abuse can contact the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-4-A-Child or 1-800-422-4453, or visit www.childhelp.org. The hotline is available 24/7 in more than 170 languages, and all calls are toll-free and confidential.
