The Latest: Police say father drank before twins died in car

CARROLLTON, Ga. – The Latest on the deaths of twin girls found in a hot car in west Georgia (all times local):

2:45 p.m.

Police in Carrolton, Georgia say they do believe alcohol was involved in the deaths of 15-month-old twin girls who died after being left in a hot car outside their home.

Captain Chris Dobbs said Friday that 24-year-old Asa North “had been consuming alcoholic beverages” before leaving his toddlers in the car.

Investigators are working to determine how long the girls were left in the car, but with temperatures in the 90s, it would take only a few minutes for the heat to become unbearable.

Police took a blood sample for alcohol and are awaiting results. North has been jailed on charges of involuntary manslaughter and reckless conduct.

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11:55 a.m.

Police have identified the twin girls who died after being left in a hot car in west Georgia as Ariel North and Alaynah North, both 15 months old.

Carrollton police Capt. Chris Dobbs tells The Associated Press that investigators believe their father, 24-year-old Asa North, discovered the children Thursday evening, because neighbours heard him screaming out front where his car was parked. Dobbs said neighbours then saw the father running around back, carrying the girls.

Dobbs said the father and the neighbours tried to cool the children in an inflatable kiddie pool in a frantic effort to save them. They were then taken to a hospital and pronounced dead.

Dobbs said police took a blood sample from the father to be tested for alcohol, but don’t yet have results.

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10:30 a.m.

A Georgia Bureau of Investigation spokesman says autopsies on twin girls pulled from a hot car in Carrollton, Georgia, will be done at the GBI’s crime lab.

GBI spokesman Scott Dutton said results will be shared with the local coroner and others investigating the Thursday deaths of the 15-month-old twin girls.

Local news outlets report that the girls’ father, 24-year-old Asa North of Carrollton, was arrested early Friday. Carroll County Jail records show that North is charged with two counts of involuntary manslaughter and two counts of reckless conduct.

Carrollton police say neighbours tried to save the babies by using ice packs and putting them in a baby pool behind the duplexes, but they were pronounced dead at a hospital.

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5 a.m.

An arrest has been made in the deaths of twin 15-month-old girls found in a hot car in west Georgia.

News outlets report the girls’ father, Asa North of Carrollton, was arrested early Friday. Online jail records show North is charged with two counts of involuntary manslaughter and two counts of reckless conduct.

Carrollton police say someone discovered the twins unresponsive in the back seat of an SUV parked in front of a duplex Thursday night.

Arriving officers found people holding the girls in a nearby baby pool, trying to cool the children off. Some had ice packs.

The twins were taken to a hospital, where they were pronounced dead.

Police said the mother was in Atlanta at the time.

It isn’t immediately clear if North has an attorney.