A Pennsylvania father and his girlfriend are facing charges after the man’s 12-year-old daughter died only weighing 50 pounds and with at least a half-dozen broken bones and other bruises, prosecutors revealed.
Rendell Hoagland, 52, and his partner Cindy Warren, 45, were arrested last week for allegedly torturing, starving and abusing preteen Malinda Hoagland.
They are also accused of chaining her to a piece of furniture over the course of several months at the family’s home in West Caln Township — about 45 miles west of Philadelphia.
The girl was rushed to the hospital on May 4 after her father found her unresponsive around 7:30 p.m.; she died less than three hours later.
While she was in the Paoli Hospital, staff saw she was emaciated and weighed only 50 pounds, the Chester County District Attorney’s office said.
The average weight for a 12-year-old girl is between 68 and 136 pounds, according to CDC data.
Malinda had bruises all over her body and at least six broken bones. Her organs were also failing, the district attorney’s office said.
“Malinda was subjected to evil and torment that no child should ever have to endure. I am grateful to every first responder and law enforcement officer who has worked tirelessly on this case,” Chester County District Attorney Christopher L. de Barrena-Sarobe said in a statement.
“Together we will get justice for Malinda.”
Another child in the home, Warren’s 9-year-old son, appeared to be well treated, the district attorney said.
Malinda was pulled from school in late November and was moved to online schooling at home, prosecutors said.
Cell phone videos and messages on both defendants’ phones recovered by authorities show the girl’s ankle was cuffed to furniture and that she was verbally berated by both her father and girlfriend, prosecutors said.
They also allegedly forced her to do squats and run in place while still shackled, the district attorney’s office said.
When she did something the pair didn’t like, she was denied meals, prosecutors alleged.
After she was pulled from school, de Barrena-Sarobe said during a press conference streamed by local ABC 6 she had “incredibly limited access to the outside world.”
Her father allegedly claimed when medics reached her that she struck a tree while riding her bike, according to an affidavit obtained by the local station. But the district attorney found that claim dubious.
West Caln Police Chief Curt Martinez said Malinda’s death was a “horrific case of child abuse.”
Both Rendell Hoagland and Cindy Warren were arrested on May 6 and charged with attempted criminal homicide, aggravated assault, kidnapping and other related criminal counts.
The pair could still face tougher charges, including murder, as the investigation continues.
Bail was set for $1 million for both of them.