PA Girl Locked In Hot Room Dies; 3 Family Members Face Charges: Report

READING, PA — Three people are facing homicide charges after authorities said they locked a 6-year-old girl in their care in her room for three days with no air conditioning while wearing a soiled diaper, according to multiple reports.

Authorities said 44-year-old Jazmine A. Rodriguez, 46-year-old Manuel A. Rodriguez Sr., and 20-year-old Manuel A. Rodriguez Jr., all of Reading, were arrested after police were called to their home in the 1200 block of Schuylkill Avenue on May 28 for a report of a child in cardiac arrest, according to an affidavit obtained PennLive.com.

The 6-year-old girl — who was stiff and had an infection in her pelvic region — was dead when police arrived at the house, reports said.

The results of an autopsy released this week revealed the girl died from dehydration and prolonged exposure to high temperatures, Action News reported. Reports said the autopsy also determined the girl was wearing a soiled diaper for several days before her death, which led to severe diaper rash.

The medical examiner said the girl was likely locked in the room for more than three days before she died, according to Action News.

Berks County District Attorney John Adams said the room may have reached a temperature of 100 degrees with 90 percent humidity, WFMZ reported.

"There is just not words that I can use to describe the abuse that took place here," Adams told WFMZ.

Jazmine Rodriguez, Manuel Rodriguez Sr. and Manuel Rodriguez Jr. are all charged with criminal homicide, conspiracy to commit criminal homicide, unlawful restraint of a minor, false imprisonment of a minor, child endangerment and other offenses.