California Father Sentenced for Reckless Act of Driving Off Cliff with 2-Year-Old Twins in Anger Over Their Mother

“Girls are going to heaven, and I’m going to hell to wait for you,” he texted their mother in June 2020.

A father has been sentenced to 31 years in prison after purposely driving his pick-up truck down a California cliff into the Pacific Ocean with his twin young kids inside.

Robert Brians, 51, pled guilty in August to two counts of attempted murder, child abuse, kidnapping, domestic violence, and burglary in connection with the 2020 incident, according to the San Diego County District Attorney’s Office.

Brians purposely drove off Sunset Cliffs “in a fit [of] rage amid a divorce and custody dispute,” according to a news release issued by prosecutors following his sentencing on Friday, Sept. 20.

According to prosecutors, the father took the two-year-olds out of his parent’s home in the middle of the night to kill both the children and himself.

Related: Twin girls, 2, are rescued by a ‘heroic’ officer after their father drives them off a cliff.

“Attempting to kill your innocent children to hurt your spouse is beyond despicable,” District Attorney Summer Stephan said in the statement, calling the incident an “unspeakable act,” and adding: “I am grateful to first responders who found this defendant’s whereabouts and were able to save the young girls from drowning.”

Jenna Brians, the girl’s mother, said at a 2021 hearing that she texted her estranged husband to find out where the twins were, according to prosecutors.

According to authorities, Brians FaceTimed his mother shortly before the incident to say goodbye. In conversation, he told her that he intended to drive their daughters off a cliff.

“I told you, girls are going to Heaven, and I’m going to Hell to wait for you,” he texted her, according to prosecutors.

Jenna phoned police for assistance at 4:30 a.m. on Saturday, June 13, 2020, according to a GoFundMe page detailing the incident. She then contacted the perpetrator back so that authorities could determine his whereabouts, according to the GoFundMe page.

According to the GoFundMe account, authorities arrived on the site within minutes of the truck hurtling over the cliff. Medics responded quickly.

At Friday’s sentence, the toddler’s mother stated that the girls who survived were “thriving,” adding, according to CBS 8, “I’m thankful that Robert is taking responsibility for his wrongs and is willing to serve his time.” “This has been a missed step toward healing for all of us.”

Brians responded briefly, according to the station, thanking emergency services for rescuing his daughters and said, “I love my babies and I’m sorry.”

As of Thursday afternoon, Sept. 26, Brians was not listed as a California prisoner in internet records. The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation did not immediately answer to PEOPLE’s inquiries concerning his release from custody.

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