An Indiana couple was charged on Tuesday after the man’s 3-year-old daughter was hospitalized with injuries that are likely fatal.

On August 7, Indianapolis police responded to a call regarding an unresponsive child near North Girls School. The child, identified as Joshua Cajigas’ daughter, was found emaciated, covered in bruises, and stiff, according to WTHR.

The toddler was also wet — which Cajigas, 24, explained was because he and his girlfriend, Mellie Jackson, 22, put her in the shower to wake her up. Cajigas allegedly also stated that his daughter had a seizure after picking up Jackson’s 1-year-old nephew and falling backward.

According to WTHR, Cajigas later told investigators that he and Jackson would give his daughter “a whooping” and make her do wall squats and runs as punishment for being disrespectful or peeing the bed.

The day of the incident, Jackson reportedly told Cajigas that his daughter was being “melodramatic” by pretending she was in shock. Jackson allegedly also told him that his daughter can “manipulate emotions.”

Cajigas’ daughter remains hospitalized in critical condition — with doctors saying she has a “very high” chance of dying. WXIN reported that the toddler suffered a brain bleed and has the lowest coma score possible before someone is deemed brain-dead.

The girl’s biological mother told WXIN that she last saw her daughter in May before she lost custody. The mother claimed she warned the courts that her daughter was being abused but she was still placed in Cajigas’ care.

“I tried to tell them this is what I saw and what I’m noticing and they kept ignoring me,” she said. “I’m just here fighting for her, but she’s fighting for her life.”

According to WXIN, Cajigas and Jackson also claimed the girl’s injuries occurred when a dresser fell on her. Though the couple claimed they only beat her with a belt on her buttocks and legs, investigators documented injuries all over her body, including on the face.

“They could have protected her, and they didn’t,” the girl’s mother told WXIN. “Instead, they tormented her.”

Jackson was charged with neglect resulting in serious injury, while Cajigas was charged with neglect resulting in catastrophic injury and battery.

It is unclear whether the charges will be upgraded if Cajigas’ daughter dies from her injuries.

[Feature Photo: Facebook]