Dad freed after video shows kids entering hot truck where they died, OK official says

Two young children were found dead Saturday on the floorboard of their father’s hot truck, police say.

Dustin Dennis told police he’d taken his two children, ages 3 and 4, to a QuikTrip around noon before returning home to take a nap, KTUL reported.

He said he’d taken the kids inside the home before falling asleep for roughly five hours, according to the outlet.

Dennis told police that when he woke up, he couldn’t find the children, KOKI reported.

He said he ultimately found them dead on the floorboard of his hot truck before moving them inside to the living room, according to KJRH. They were pronounced dead when paramedics arrived, KOKI reported.

Initially, police said a neighbor had video of Dennis getting out of the truck and locking it without getting the children out of the vehicle, according to KJRH. Now, the Tulsa district attorney says surveillance video showed that the children got into the car on their own and weren’t able to get out, KJRH reported.

Dennis was arrested and has since been released, KOTV reported. No formal charges were filed, according to the outlet. His bond was initially set at $750,000.

This story was originally published June 15, 2020 at 8:27 AM.