Family Remembers 2-Year-Old Who Died After Parents Left Her in 109-Degree Closet

Jace M. Hirschy/Facebook

An Indiana couple allegedly left their 2-year-old daughter in a closet with a space heater overnight, resulting in the toddler’s death. Berne Police Department officers responded to the Swiss Meadow Apartments on November 27 after receiving calls about a dead child. When they arrived, they found the parents, Sintia Perez, 21, and Jace Hirschy, 23, with their 5- and 3-year-old children. What the parents allegedly told police about their third child, Zaelynn Hirschy, was shocking.

According to WANE, the family of five lived in filthy conditions, including their toddler sleeping in a closet with a space heater on overnight. Tragically, the sleeping arrangement led to her death.

Zaelynn died of hyperthermia.

An autopsy confirmed the toddler’s body temperature was 109.4 degrees when police arrived on the scene, WANE reported. Perez reportedly told police she put Zaelynn to bed around 7 the night before and turned the heater nearly all the way up. The mother awoke the next day around 12:30 p.m., but neither she nor Hirschy checked on their daughter until 3 p.m. By then, the little girl was dead.

According to police, temperatures in the closet got up to 109 degrees at the ceiling. The toddler was found with discoloration to her body and with her head was “darkly discolored,” per WANE.

An obituary described Zaelynn fondly.

According to her obituary, Zaelynn was a happy fun-loving child.

“Zaelynn was full of love and life. She always seemed to have her tongue out having fun and being happy,” it read. “Zaelynn had big beautiful crystal blue eyes and long long eyelashes and they brightened up the room every time she smiled.  Her entire family will miss this spunky little girl greatly.”

A friend shared condolences with her family, writing, “We are so very sorry for the loss of your precious Zaelynn. You will be in our thoughts and prayers in the coming days, especially on Christmas.”

The family reportedly lived in disgusting conditions.

In court documents obtained by WANE, Berne police noted that as soon as they arrived at the scene, they noticed trash filled the apartment, which appeared infested with cockroaches. In addition, officers saw a pot on the stove filled with mold and flies.

Police arrested the parents, and the state took custody of their children.

According to WPTA, the older children lived in “extremely unhealthy” conditions and had lice when police arrived. The Indiana Department of Child Services took custody of the older children. Authorities arrested Perez and Hirschy and booked them in the Adams County Jail. They each face one count of neglect resulting in death and two additional neglect charges associated with their two living children.