Police Find 2-Year-Old Dead In Closet, Their Hearts Drop When They See What’s Beside Her Body

Police Find 2-Year-Old Dead In Closet, Their Hearts Drop When They See What’s Beside Her Body

Ruth KamauFeb 22, 2025
Note: we are republishing this story which originally made the news in December 2024.

A tragic case of alleged neglect in Indiana has left a 2-year-old girl dead and her parents facing serious criminal charges. Police say the child was left overnight in a closet with a space heater that caused her body temperature to rise to a deadly 109 degrees Fahrenheit.

Authorities responded to an apartment complex in Berne, Indiana, on the afternoon of November 27, after receiving a call for a death investigation. Upon arrival, Berne Assistant Police Chief James Newbold described feeling a striking heat difference when entering the bedroom and approaching the closet where the child was found.

Exterior sign for the apartment complex where the 2-year-old’s death occurred, Photo Credit: Law&Crime Network/Youtube

Inside the closet, investigators discovered a disturbing scene. The space was described as being in “disarray,” with trash scattered throughout, along with a soiled diaper and feces. The toddler was found in a crib on a heavily soiled mattress. Police noted discoloration on the girl’s body, particularly her head, which was described as “darkly discolored.”

Investigators measured temperatures throughout the apartment, revealing extreme heat levels in the closet where the child was left. The toddler’s body temperature was recorded at 108.8 degrees on her forehead, 109.4 degrees from her chest, and 108.8 degrees from another reading. Temperatures in the closet reached as high as 108.3 degrees, while the rest of the apartment ranged from 84 degrees to lower levels.

Aerial view of the apartment complex where the 2-year-old’s death occurred, Photo Credit: Law&Crime Network/Youtube

According to police, the girl’s parents, 21-year-old Sintia Perez and 23-year-old Jace Hirschy, admitted to putting the child in her crib inside the closet at approximately 7 p.m. on November 26, leaving a space heater turned up nearly to its maximum setting. Shockingly, neither parent checked on the toddler for over 18 hours, until around 3 p.m. the following day.

An autopsy confirmed that the child died from hyperthermia, a condition caused by prolonged exposure to extreme heat.

Side-by-side Mugshots of the 2-year-old’s parents, Photo Credit: Law&Crime Network/Youtube

The Indiana Department of Child Services removed the couple’s two other children from the home following the incident. Authorities reported that both children had lice and were living in what they described as “extremely unhealthy” conditions.

Perez and Hirschy are now each facing one count of neglect resulting in death, along with two additional charges of neglect tied to the unsafe environment for their other children.

The pair appeared in court for the first time on Wednesday and remain in custody at the Adams County Jail.

Photo of the smiling 2-year-old, Photo Credit: Law&Crime Network/Youtube

This heartbreaking case has sparked outrage and raised questions about how such extreme neglect could occur. Authorities urge anyone aware of unsafe living conditions involving children to report them immediately to prevent future tragedies.

Sources: WLBT3

Related Posts

Police are urging everyone to stay away from this area 👇😨🚨 Full story below

Early Thursday morning, Corewell Health Beaumont Troy Hospital, located 24 miles north of Detroit, was thrust into chaos following reports of an active shooter on the premises

This woman was found a moment ago without a cab… See more

Local authorities in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, responded to a call regarding a woman found lying in a vacant lot near Keng Road and Win Win Boulevard in…

10 People Who Did Something So Kind It Belongs in a Film

In a world where kindness often goes hidden, some people go above and beyond to make a difference. Today we have collected heartwarming stories about real acts…

BUSTED! Anti-Trump Judge CAUGHT in Alarming Scandal

U.S. District Judge Indira Talwani, appointed by President Obama in 2013, is under scrutiny after blocking former President Trump’s attempt to end the CHNV immigration parole program,…

🚨Breaking News. Donald Trump signs a decree to buy everything… See more

He directed the Treasury and Commerce Departments to create a sovereign wealth fund to support government investments, including potential acquisitions like TikTok. In January 2025, he introduced…

Missing girl found in the woods, her father was the one who…See more

The minor was last seen when she left her home in the Santa Martha Acatitla neighborhood to go to a nearby store. According to relatives, Perla Alison…

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *