A Pennsylvania father and his girlfriend are facing charges after the man’s 12-year-old daughter died weighing only 50 pounds with at least a half-dozen broken bones and bruises. Rendell Hoagland, 52, and his partner Cindy Warren, 45, were arrested for allegedly torturing, starving, and abusing Malinda Hoagland. They are accused of chaining her to furniture at their home in West Caln Township. Malinda was rushed to the hospital on May 4 after being found unresponsive by her father and died shortly after. She was emaciated, had bruises all over her body, at least six broken bones, and failing organs.
The average weight for a 12-year-old girl is between 68 and 136 pounds according to CDC data. Malinda’s condition was far below this range, and she had suffered severe physical abuse. The Chester County District Attorney confirmed that she was subjected to torment and mistreatment that no child should endure and expressed gratitude to first responders and law enforcement for their work in the case. Malinda’s sibling in the home, Warren’s 9-year-old son, appeared to be well treated compared to the victim. Malinda had been pulled out of school in late November and was being homeschooled online.
Cell phone footage recovered by authorities showed Malinda’s ankle being cuffed to furniture, verbal abuse from both Hoagland and Warren, and acts of physical torment, such as forced exercise while shackled. Prosecutors alleged that Malinda was denied meals as punishment when she did something the defendants didn’t like. She had limited access to the outside world after being taken out of school. The father initially claimed to medics that Malinda struck a tree while riding her bike, but this claim was deemed dubious by the district attorney and police chief, who described the case as a horrific instance of child abuse.
Rendell Hoagland and Cindy Warren were arrested on May 6 and charged with attempted criminal homicide, aggravated assault, kidnapping, and other related offenses. They may face additional charges, including murder, as the investigation proceeds. Bail was set at $1 million for each of them. The community is outraged by the heinous nature of the crime and the suffering endured by Malinda before her tragic death. The case has shed light on the importance of vigilance and reporting in cases of suspected child abuse to prevent similar tragedies from occurring in the future.
