According to police, the girl’s parents, 21-year-old Sintia Perez and 23-year-old Jace Hirschy, admitted to putting the child in her crib inside the closet at approximately 7 p.m. on November 26, leaving a space heater turned up nearly to its maximum setting. Shockingly, neither parent checked on the toddler for over 18 hours, until around 3 p.m. the following day.
An autopsy confirmed that the child died from hyperthermia, a condition caused by prolonged exposure to extreme heat.
The Indiana Department of Child Services removed the couple’s two other children from the home following the incident. Authorities reported that both children had lice and were living in what they described as “extremely unhealthy” conditions.
Perez and Hirschy are now each facing one count of neglect resulting in death, along with two additional charges of neglect tied to the unsafe environment for their other children.
The pair appeared in court for the first time on Wednesday and remain in custody at the Adams County Jail.
Photo Credit: Law&Crime Network/Youtube
This heartbreaking case has sparked outrage and raised questions about how such extreme neglect could occur. Authorities urge anyone aware of unsafe living conditions involving children to report them immediately to prevent future tragedies.
