A Pennsylvania district attorney announced Thursday he plans to seek the death penalty for a couple charged with the murder of a 12-year-old girl.
Malinda Hoagland’s father, 52-year-old Rendell Hoagland, and his girlfriend, 45-year-old Cindy Warren, have been charged with first-, second-, and third-degree murder and involuntary servitude, WGAL reported.
The girl died hours after her father called 911 in May claiming that a tree knocked his daughter unconscious as she rode her bike, as CrimeOnline reported. But detectives quickly determined that his story didn’t match up with child’s extensive injuries.
Doctors found that Malinda weighed 50 pounds when she died and had six broken bones, numerous lacerations and bruises, and liver damage.
Detectives soon learned that Hoagland and Warren kept Malinda shackled to furniture, even while she was attended school online, and forced her to do hours of calisthenics as punishment. They also kept food from her and padlocked a pantry to keep her out.
A video recovered from a cell phone showed Malinda suffered abuse that was “ongoing” and “systematic” and took place over years.
Warren’s 9-year-old son also lived at the home but was not subject to the abuse heaped on the girl.
An autopsy determined Malinda died from starvation and multiple blunt force injuries, according to WGAL. She had about 75 bruises, contusions, ulcers, and pressure sores at the time of death.
“Her injuries were simply inexplicable. And then, as we investigated, a preliminary number of cellphone videos clearly showed that Malinda was terrorized by the defendants,” District Attorney Christopher de Barrena-Sarobe said.
“This incredibly resilient young girl, her body could not take it anymore. She began to shut down, early morning hours of May 4. And the defendants denied her medical care,” Barrena-Sarobe said.
The couple is being held at Chester County Prison without bail.
For the latest true crime and justice news, subscribe to the ‘Crime Stories with Nancy Grace’ podcast.
[Featured image: Melinda Hoagland/Chester County District Attorney’s Office]
