A Pennsylvania man and his girlfriend have been arrested and charged in connection with the death of the man’s 12-year-old daughter, who weighed only 50 pounds at the time of her death and had multiple broken bones and bruises, according to prosecutors. The accused, Rendell Hoagland, 52, and Cindy Warren, 45, are alleged to have subjected the young girl, Malinda Hoagland, to severe physical abuse and starvation.
The couple is also accused of chaining the girl to a piece of furniture for several months in their home in West Caln Township, located approximately 45 miles west of Philadelphia. The girl was taken to the hospital on May 4 after her father found her unresponsive. She passed away less than three hours later.
Hospital staff at Paoli Hospital noted the girl’s emaciated state, weighing only 50 pounds, a stark contrast to the average weight of a 12-year-old girl, which ranges between 68 and 136 pounds according to CDC data. The Chester County District Attorney’s office reported that Malinda had multiple bruises and at least six broken bones, and her organs were failing.
Chester County District Attorney Christopher L. de Barrena-Sarobe expressed his gratitude to the first responders and law enforcement officers working on the case, vowing to seek justice for Malinda. He described the abuse Malinda endured as “evil and torment that no child should ever have to endure.”
Interestingly, another child in the home, Warren’s 9-year-old son, seemed to be well cared for, according to the district attorney. Malinda had been withdrawn from school in late November and had transitioned to online learning at home.
Evidence recovered from the defendants’ cell phones, including videos and messages, showed that Malinda was chained to furniture and verbally abused by both her father and his girlfriend. The district attorney’s office also reported that the girl was forced to do physical exercises while shackled and was denied meals for behavior the couple disapproved of.
After Malinda was withdrawn from school, she had very limited contact with the outside world, according to de Barrena-Sarobe. When medical personnel arrived at the scene, her father claimed that she had hit a tree while riding her bike. However, the district attorney found this claim questionable.
West Caln Police Chief Curt Martinez described the case as a “horrific case of child abuse.” Both Hoagland and Warren were arrested on May 6 and charged with attempted criminal homicide, aggravated assault, kidnapping, and other related criminal counts. They are both held on $1 million bail, and could face more severe charges, including murder, as the investigation continues.