Pennsylvania – In a disturbing case in Pennsylvania,
authorities are moving to seek the death penalty for a couple accused of the heinous murder of a 12-year-old girl whose life was tragically cut short under severe and inhumane conditions.
DA C. Sarobe, announced on Thursday that his office would pursue capital punishment for 52-year-old R. Hoagland and 45-year-old C. Warren due to the egregious nature of the crimes committed against the 12-year-old girl, who was Hoagland’s biological daughter.
The couple faces charges of criminal homicide, aggravated assault, kidnapping, multiple degrees of murder, and involuntary servitude.
These charges were significantly escalated following the discovery of the girl’s body, which weighed just 50 pounds, highlighting the extreme neglect and abuse she endured. Authorities were alerted to the situation in May when Hoagland made a 911 call.
Hoagland made up a story about a tree accident that supposedly occurred while the girl was biking. This story quickly unraveled under scrutiny from detectives, who noted that the child’s extensive injuries were inconsistent with such an accident. Further investigations revealed a pattern of abuse that was both systematic and brutal. The girl was found to have endured multiple broken bones, injuries to the body, and extensive damage to an organ. It was uncovered that she was often tied to furniture, forced to perform strenuous calisthenics for hours as a punishment, and was intentionally starved, with her father and his girlfriend padlocking food away.
Shocking video evidence from the couple’s cell phone confirmed the ongoing abuse, showing the girl being terrorized and physically punished in a manner that prosecutors described as “ongoing” and “systematic.” This abuse spanned several years and was documented by the couple through videos, images, and text messages discussing their horrific treatment of the girl. The autopsy results were grim, attributing the girl’s death to starvation and multiple blunt force injuries, with about 75 recorded injuries on her body at the time of death. DA Sarobe expressed his disbelief, saying, “She did not have any disease. She was starved and forced to exercise, did not have an ounce of fat on her. 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.”
This case has raised serious questions about the effectiveness of local child protection services, as the school district where the girl attended had previously expressed concerns about her welfare to authorities. However, no actions were taken to intervene or check on her well-being. As the legal proceedings continue, both defendants are being held without bail in jail. The upcoming court proceedings scheduled for next month will be a critical moment for justice for the young girl, as the prosecutors aim to hold those responsible for her death accountable.