The mother and grandma of a child who died have been arrested in Arizona after they allegedly abused her and kept her in a makeshift cage filled with faeces.
Police said the girl, 13, had a cognitive delay and the mental capacity of a three-year-old. The child’s grandmother Virginia Lujan, 55, and her mother, Jami Hodges, 33, were charged on Tuesday with child abuse in connection with her death.
Police were called to Lujan’s Tempe home on Tuesday night following reports that the child was not breathing. Tempe Police said the child was “covered in bruises and sores.” She was rushed to hospital, where she later died. Lujan told police that her granddaughter had fallen down the stairs two days prior.
“She said she did not seek medical attention because she believed the girl would be fine,” Tempe police said. Police subsequently searched Lujan’s home, where they found “what appeared to be a makeshift cage, which was full of feces and had a foul odor.”
Authorities said Lujan and Hodges admitted that the child was kept in the cage “to keep control of her.”Tempe Police chief Ken McCoy said the case was ongoing, with more charges pending as additional evidence is gathered.”No child should ever have to endure suffering,” he said.
“We are committed to uncovering the truth and seeking justice on her behalf. The tragic loss of a child is a profound reminder of our shared responsibility to protect the most vulnerable in our community.”
Lujan remains in custody while Hodges was released pending charge
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