Share and Follow
NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!
The death of a 13-year-old girl with epilepsy has reportedly been ruled a homicide, after authorities said she had been kept in a “makeshift cage” inside her grandmother’s Arizona home.
Melony Granados — who suffered from a rare form of epilepsy and cognitive impairments that left her functioning at the level of a 3-year-old — had been in the care of her grandmother, Virginia Lujan. Lujan, 55, was charged in February with child abuse and related offenses in connection with the teen’s death, prosecutors said.
The Maricopa County Medical Examiner’s Office recently confirmed Granados’ death was ruled a homicide, ABC15 reported.
“While investigating, officers discovered a bunk bed that had been adapted into a makeshift enclosure where the victim was kept for extended periods of time, along with grossly unsanitary conditions throughout the home,” the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office said at the time.
Granados, who had epilepsy and severe cognitive impairments, was one of five children belonging to Lujan’s daughter, Jami Hodges. Hodges had previously transferred custody of four of her children to Lujan.

FILE PHOTO: Police units respond to the scene of an emergency. (Getty Images)
In February, Lujan was indicted on charges including child abuse, evidence tampering, and contributing to the dependency of a child, according to the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office.
The Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office, Maricopa County Attorney’s Office and Tempe Police Department did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment. A spokesperson for the Maricopa County Medical Examiner’s Office declined to comment.
Fox News Digital’s Michael Dorgan contributed to this report.