Child abuse and neglect are uncomfortable topics that most people tend to avoid. Unfortunately, kids suffer every day at the hands of those who are supposed to protect and love them the most. Recently, an Indiana toddler was found dead after her parents allegedly left her in a 109-degree closet in their home.
Sintia Perez, 21, and Jace M. Hirschy, 23, of Berne, Indiana, were charged in early December in their 2-year-old daughter’s November death. Additionally, they were relieved of custody of two other children. The details of the heartbreaking case are tragic.
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The parents face serious charges after their toddler was found dead in a closet.
On December 4, Perez and Hirschy were charged with one felony count of neglect of a dependent resulting in death and two felony counts of neglect of a dependent, WANE reported. The parents could face up to 45 years in prison if convicted of all charges. They have a jury trial set for March 7, 2025.
Hirschy called for medical assistance for the 2-year-old.
About 3:30 p.m. November 27, Hirschy called the Adams County sheriff’s office for medical assistance, the Fort Wayne Journal Gazette reported. First responders found the toddler’s body in a “very soiled” crib, according to a probable cause affidavit. Furthermore, the crib was in a closet in the main bedroom.
A responding officer noticed it was significantly hotter in the closet than in the bedroom itself.
Adams County Officer James Newbold noted in the police affidavit that it was much hotter in the closet than in the bedroom, according to WANE 15. Additionally, he saw trash and feces on the floor. Newbold reported that temperatures in the closet ranged from 85 degrees on the floor to 109 degrees on the ceiling.
When first responders arrived, the temperature reading of the girl’s body was 109. It read 102 degrees about 45 minutes later with a different device, according to the affidavit, per the Journal Gazette.
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When questioned, the mom said the toddler was left in the closet with a space heater for 20 hours.
While speaking with police, Perez explained the toddler was put into the crib at 7 p.m. the day before. A space heater was turned on in the closet, WANE 15 reported. The mom said she woke up at roughly 12:30 p.m. the next day, but neither she nor Hirschy checked on the 2-year-old until after 3 p.m. According to an autopsy, the girl died of hyperthermia.
Two other children were taken out of the home.
The Department of Child Services also removed two children with lice, ages 3 and 5, from the home, the Journal Gazette reported. According to the police affidavit, the home’s conditions were “extremely unhealthy.” Newbold noted the difficulty in moving around the apartment “because of clutter and filth. A pot on the stove contained mold and flies,” as well as “filthy” children’s bedding, according to the newspaper.
