A Medford woman was sentenced to 20 years to life in prison after pleading guilty to suffocating her twin two-year-old daughters to death in June 2019.
On June 27, 2019, at approximately 2:37 p.m., Tenia Campbell’s mother called 911 to report that her daughter was driving around in the family van and was threatening to kill her daughters, Jaida and Jasmine. Law enforcement launched a large-scale search for Tenia Campbell and her daughters between the areas of Medford and Montauk. At approximately 4:00 p.m., an East Hampton Police Officer spotted the van just off Montauk Highway, a few miles west of Montauk Point.
When the officer approached, she saw Tenia Campbell outside of the van. The officer walked over to the van and saw her two-year old twin daughters dead in their car seats. Tenia Campbell later admitted to smothering the girls to death.
On December 13, 2023, Tenia Campbell, 28, pleaded guilty before Supreme Court Judge Richard Ambro to two counts of first-degree murder, a Class A violent felony. On January 29, 2024, Ambro sentenced Campbell to 20 years to life in prison.
“These two young lives were cut short by the one person who was supposed to love and protect them,” said Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney. “Although the 20-year sentence here resolves this sad case, it will not bring back these girls.”