Pennsylvania police have arrested a 6-year-old’s grandparents when the girl was found dead after being locked in a room for at least three days.
Police were called to the home in Reading on Monday for a report of a child suffering from cardiac arrest and found the girl, who appeared to have been dead for some time, WCAU reported.
Jazmine Rodriguez, 44, and Manuel Rodriguez Sr., 46, have been charged with homicide, unlawful restraint, false imprisonment, endangering the welfare of children, reckless endangering, tampering, and conspiracy.
Investigators are looking for Manuel Rodriguez Jr., 20, for his suspected involvement. Rodriguez Jr., facing the same charges, was the girl’s uncle, the Daily Voice reported.
Police said an autopsy discovered that the little girl died from dehydration and prolonged exposure to high temperatures. Investigators said the temperatures in the locked room likely reached 100 degrees
The girl was wearing soiled diaper and had severe diaper rash, the report said.
“The condition of the victim at the time of her death is consistent with the victim being locked in the room for more than 3 days,” Berks County District Attorney John T. Adams said. “The manner of death has been ruled a homicide.”
The Reading School District said the girl attended school there in the 2021-2022 school year and parts of the 2022-2023 year but did not attend last year, WCAU reported.
