Father's Heartbreaking Tribute to TwinsFound Dead As Sobbing Mother Charged With Murder

The father of twins found dead at home has paid a heartbreaking tribute to his 'beautiful babies' - as their crying mother appeared in court charged with their murder. 

Steven Ford took to Twitter this morning to post an image of his two children Jake and Chloe embracing one another.

Both were found dying at home in Margate, Kent on Thursday morning soon after their mother - Samantha Ford - crashed her car into a lorry.  

She appeared at Canterbury Magistrates’ Court in Kent this morning charged with murder - where she cried as the charges were read out during the brief hearing, which lasted just a couple of minutes. 

The court was told she was charged with two counts of murder but no other details were given. 

There was no application for bail and she was remanded in custody to appear before Maidstone Crown Court on Monday where it is expected she will appear via video link.   

Yesterday, forensic experts were seen removing pillows wrapped in evidence bags from the home where the two toddlers were found dying. 

The family of the twins whose mother has been charged with their murder have spoken out about the 'terrible tragedy'. 

And today in his Twitter tribute, the father wrote: 'Daddy's twins xx. My beautiful babies. I love you.' 

 The 37-year-old mother allegedly crashed the family's Ford Galaxy into the back of a lorry before she was arrested. 

Emergency services discovered the children after 37-year-old Samantha was pulled from the wreckage of a crash on a dual carriageway at 2.50am yesterday morning. 

Officers who drove to her home on a new-build estate in Westwood near Margate, Kent found two dying children.    

Ford's brother James Emptage, 27, told The Sun: 'It's a terrible tragedy. I will pay tribute but not right now.'

Her grandmother Pamela Emptage, 80, said that the two toddlers were lovely and referenced the fact that they didn't even make their second birthday, also adding that it was 'absolutely tragic'.     

The youngsters were taken to hospital at around 3.35am where doctors battled to save their lives, but both were declared dead shortly after arriving. The twins' father, Steven Ford, posted a picture of him and Chloe online last week, with the caption: 'Snuggling with my fave girl #daughter #myworld #twins'.    

Ford will appear at Canterbury Magistrates' Court on Saturday morning.   

Photos posted on social media show Ford and her keen golfer husband Steven enjoying days out with the children in the summer this year. 

They are believed to have lived in nearby Ashford until recently.Forensics experts were at the house today and were seen removing pillows wrapped in evidence bags, as well as children's mattresses and pillowcases. 

Ford was today being quizzed about the double deaths after being released from hospital following treatment for the crash injuries, and immediately being taken into police custody.

Neighbours said the mother had only just moved into the £215,000 property, which was privately rented through a local letting agent.

Police were called in the early hours of yesterday morning when Ford crashed into the back of a lorry on the A299 near the popular seaside town of Whitstable. 

She managed to escape with minor injuries despite the impact causing her car bonnet to completely crumple. 

Officers drove her the 15 miles back to her Margate home over concerns for the welfare of her family.

On arrival 45 minutes later they found the two children.

The semi-detached property was sealed off last night as forensics teams carried a number of white evidence bags along with two pillow cases from the house.

A pink bicycle could be seen lying in the hall of the property as two uniformed officers stood guard at the front door.

Kent Police refused to identify the ages of the children nor confirm their sex to avoid them being identified. 

One resident, who asked not to be named, said she understood the arrested woman to be a single mother who had moved into the house with her two children around three weeks ago.

She said: 'I've heard the children are toddlers and one of them is two. We pass people round here and say hello to neighbours, but other than that, everyone keeps themselves to themselves.

'Something like this shocks you when it's on your doorstep.' It is not known why the mother was travelling on the London-bound carriageway of the A299 Thanet Way in the middle of the night.

She was taken to hospital with what one neighbour claimed was a broken nose, but was later discharged and taken into custody at a Kent police station.

Police tonight confirmed that Ford, of Castle Drive, Margate, had been arrested on suspicion of murder following the deaths of two children.

A Kent Police spokesman said: 'Detectives from the Kent and Essex Serious Crime Directorate have charged a woman with murder following the deaths of two children in Margate.

'At around 3.35am on Thursday 27 December 2018 officers attended a property in Castle Drive, Margate due to concerns for the welfare of the occupants.

'The South East Coast Ambulance Service also attended and two young children were taken to hospital, where they were later confirmed deceased.

'Samantha Ford, aged 37 and of Castle Drive, Margate was arrested and on 28 December, following authorisation from the Crown Prosecution Service, was charged with two counts of murder.

'She has been remanded in custody to appear before Canterbury Magistrates' Court