Warwick Woman Pleads To Child Neglect In Death Of 9-Year-Old

WARWICK, RI — A Warwick woman pleaded no contest to charges of manslaughter and child abuse connected to the death of her 9-year-old, Zhanae Rothgeb, in 2019.

Michelle Rothgeb, 58, pleaded nolo contendre to one count of manslaughter, eight counts of child cruelty and neglect and one count of animal cruelty in Kent Count Superior Court on Thursday, Attorney General Peter Neronh said. She is scheduled to be sentenced Nov. 3.

The charges stem from Jan. 3, 2019. According to Neronha's office, Rothgeb was negligent in caring for Zhanae, which led to her death in a home on Oakland Beach Avenue in Warwick.

Rothgeb was caring for eight adopted children between the ages of 2 and 15. Nearly all the children had special needs, including Zhanae, who had cerebral palsy.

Emergency responders were called to the house for reports of an unresponsive child. Zhanae was rushed to Kent County Hospital and pronounced dead.

The house was "in a derelict state, littered with garbage, food waste, used diapers, insects, and human and animal feces," Neronha's office said based on reports from police.

A medical examiner determined that the Zhanae's death was caused by complications of cerebral palsy, "exacerbated by child neglect." The investigation later determined that the child was left in bathtub, unattended, for nearly eight hours, and was not given medication to help prevent seizures.

"Also during their investigation, law enforcement determined that Rothgeb had not cared for Zhanae, nor her other adopted children in the time leading up to Zhanae’s death," Neronha's office continued. "Rothgeb routinely tasked her 15-year-old adopted son to care for the rest of the children."

A severely emaciated dog rescued from the property was later euthanized for humane reasons. All the remaining adopted children were turned over to the Department of Children, Youth and Families, and placed with new caretakers.