SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) -- A father who sent a text message to his wife reading, “I told you, girls are going to Heaven and I’m going to Hell to wait for you,” before intentionally driving off Sunset Cliffs, was sentenced to 31 years in state prison, prosecutors said. During a divorce and custody dispute, Robert Brians, 51, had taken his two-year-old twin girls from his parents' home in the middle of night on June 13, 2020, with the intent of killing the children and himself, the Office of the United States Attorney Southern District of California said in a news release Friday. “Attempting to kill your innocent children to hurt your spouse is beyond despicable,” said San Diego County District Attorney Summer Stephan. “I am grateful to first responders who found this defendant’s whereabouts and were able to save the young girls from drowning. I’m also proud of our Family Protection Division for holding this defendant accountable for his unspeakable act.” Suspects arrested after body found in makeshift grave at Balboa Park On Aug. 9, Brians pleaded guilty to two counts of attempted murder, child abuse, kidnapping, domestic violence and burglary. In 2021, Brians' wife, Jenna, testified she exchanged several text messages with her husband to learn where he had taken the children. "At one point, Brians called Jenna on Facetime so she could say goodbye to the girls. Brians told her that he was planning to drive off a cliff in his truck while his girls were inside. One text message he sent read, 'I told you, girls are going to heaven and I’m going to hell to wait for you,'" the release read. If you or someone you know is being abused, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline 1-800-799-7233, or find more resources on the District Attorney’s website.