A Pennsylvania man accused of a heinous case of child abuse resulting in the death of his 12-year-old daughter has accepted a plea deal to evade the death penalty. Rendell Hoagland, aged 54, admitted to first-degree murder, conspiracy, kidnapping, and related charges in connection with the tragic death of his daughter, Malinda Hoagland, in May 2024. This was confirmed by the Chester County District Attorney’s Office on Friday. Under the terms of the plea agreement, Hoagland will serve a life sentence without the possibility of parole, in addition to an extra 30 to 60 years.

Back in July 2024, the district attorney had declared intentions to pursue the death penalty against Hoagland and his companion, Cindy Warren, aged 45. Warren was also apprehended following Malinda’s death, as reported by CrimeOnline. The grim details of the case and the severity of the charges reflect the profound impact of this tragedy on the community.

The sequence of events leading to Malinda’s death began when Hoagland dialed 911, alleging that his daughter was knocked unconscious by a falling tree while riding her bike. However, investigators soon discovered that his story was inconsistent with the severe injuries the young girl had suffered.

Medical examinations revealed that Malinda weighed a mere 50 pounds at the time of her death and had sustained six broken bones, as well as numerous cuts and bruises. She also suffered liver damage. Further investigation uncovered that Hoagland and Warren had subjected Malinda to cruel treatment, keeping her shackled to furniture even during online school sessions and forcing her to endure hours of strenuous exercise as punishment. They also deprived her of food, going so far as to padlock the pantry to prevent her from accessing it.

Doctors found that Malinda weighed 50 pounds when she died and had six broken bones, numerous lacerations and bruises, and liver damage. Then detectives soon learned that Hoagland and Warren kept Malinda shackled to furniture, even while she was attended school online, and forced her to do hours of calisthenics as punishment. They also kept food from her and padlocked a pantry to keep her out.

A video recovered from a cell phone showed Malinda suffered abuse that was “ongoing” and “systematic” and took place over years.

Warren’s 9-year-old son also lived at the home but was not subject to the abuse heaped on the girl. Warren’s trial is scheduled to begin on June 8, the district attorney’s office said.

District Attorney Christopher de Barrena-Sarobe said that prosecutors consulted with the victim’s family in reaching the plea deal.

“We still have more work to do, but today we took a big step towards getting justice for Malinda,” he said.