Authorities in Arizona have arrested a grandmother and mother in connection with the death of a 13-year-old special needs girl, alleging severe child abuse that included physical punishment and confinement in a feces-covered cage.
Virginia Lujan, 55, was taken into custody and charged with one count of child abuse following the girl’s death earlier this week, according to the Tempe Police Department. The victim’s mother, Jami Hodges, 33, was also arrested, though she has since been released pending further charges, AZFamily reported.
Police responded to Lujan’s residence around 9 p.m. on Tuesday after the grandmother called 911 to report that the teenager was not breathing. Responding officers found the girl, who had the mental capacity of a toddler, with bruises and sores in various stages of healing, authorities said.
The victim was transported to a local hospital, where she was pronounced dead on Wednesday morning.
Lujan, who was the primary caregiver at the time, told investigators that the teen had fallen down the stairs two days earlier. However, police said Lujan did not seek medical attention, believing the girl would recover on her own.
Upon executing a search warrant at the residence, detectives discovered what appeared to be a makeshift cage filled with feces and emitting a foul odor. Both Lujan and Hodges admitted to confining the girl in the cage to “keep control of her,” police stated.
Describing the cage, Tempe police spokesperson Jessica Ells explained it as a bunk bed with the lower section removed and surrounded by baby gates and makeshift bars. “The home was very disorderly; it was not clean,” Ells said. “It was deplorable, to say the least.”
Authorities said Hodges had been temporarily staying with Lujan, who was responsible for four of Hodges’ five children, including the victim. Hodges told police she had not seen her daughter regularly despite living in the same home and was unaware of the alleged fall Lujan described.
Four other children, aged 2 to 15, were also living in the home and were reportedly not attending school. They have since been placed under state custody.
Police stated that additional charges could be forthcoming as the investigation continues.
Tempe Police Chief Kenneth McCoy emphasized the severity of the case, stating, “The tragic loss of a child is a profound reminder of our shared responsibility to protect the most vulnerable in our community. Investigations like this demand meticulous attention to detail and sensitivity to the emotional toll it takes on everyone involved.”