'A Never-Ending Nightmare:’ New Charges Shed Light For Mom Of 2 Kids Who Died In Hot Car

The mother of two children who died in a hot pickup last summer spoke out now that the children’s father faces new drug charges.

Dustin Dennis is charged for using drugs and exposing his kids to drugs, including the day before they died and the same day. 

Cheyenne Trent said she never suspected Dennis to be using drugs, but she said these new details answer questions she’s been wrestling with for months.

Trent said it's been a difficult year without her children, three-year-old Ryan and four-year-old Teagan. She said it's even harder now, thinking their father Dennis was potentially doing drugs, even up to the day they died last summer in his truck.

Investigators say when the children died, Dennis was asleep in his home for more than four hours. 

"I can't forgive somebody for that. It's something that's unforgivable," Trent said. Trent said the new details have changed people's perspective.

"A lot of people took his side for a little bit there oh well he's just a tired parent he works but that wasn't the case," Trent said.

Dennis is now charged with four child neglect charges and 11 drug charges. The affidavit said Dennis exposed the kids to drugs. It also said Dennis texted his brother Michael Dennis repeatedly about doing cocaine. 

It said on the day the children died, Dustin texted his brother, "he just did a couple of small lines... [HE] said he is going to do some drugs real quick."

"It's difficult, I don't think he realizes what he's done. It's affected our entire lives, it's changed everything,” Trent said.

News on 6 reached out to Dennis' attorney and have not heard back. Dennis is due back in federal court on Thursday.