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Rendell Hoagland and Cindy Warren are each charged with criminal homicide, aggravated assault, conspiracy, and nearly a dozen other felonies in connection with the death of Malinda Hoagland, according to court records and police papers.
Malinda died on Saturday, May 4 at Paoli Hospital, according to court documents from the Chester County District Attorney's Office.
In a criminal complaint, authorities said police were called to the couple's Reid Road home that day for an unresponsive 12-year-old girl earlier that day. Hoagland told dispatchers his daughter had hit a tree while riding her bike.
The truth was far worse, authorities allege: Investigators would come to find video footage of Malinda shackled to various pieces of furniture in her father and stepmother's home, forced to do calisthenics in place, and crying.
Authorities also said Warren has a prior conviction "related to the physical abuse of her 3-year-old son and the beating death of a 2-year-old child in her care."
Hoagland's Facebook page shows multiple photo albums, some with Malinda, depicting a picture-perfect life with "his love," Warren. He shows his friends and followers the recent camping trip the family took, just before Malinda's death. He shows Christmas, in which Malinda appears to have been gifted a bike. He shows happiness.
THE 911 CALL
Malinda was taken to Paoli Hospital where "trauma surgeons were unable to save (her) and she died from her injuries," police said. She was noted to have "significant bruising," liver damage, and was suffering from "multi-system trauma" including circulatory, respiratory, and cardiac failure.
Detectives said medical staff told them she was emaciated to an extent that "should not occur in this country."
Hoagland and Warren explained wrote Malinda's injuries off as a bicycle accident, and an incident on a water slide during a recent camping trip, police said. Warren also told police his daughter had been "losing weight for about two and one-half months," and had made an appointment for her to see a doctor.
ISOLATION
Hoagland and his wife removed the girl from school after they caught her "'selling' food" from her locker, they allegedly told investigators. She last attended school at the end of November 2023, and after that was taking classes online, according to police.
"Warren and Hoagland secluded Malinda Hoagland from mandatory reporters and others who may have offered assistance in order to physically abuse and torment the child," a detective wrote.
** TRIGGER WARNING: The following news story depicts abuse that many may find severely disturbing **
The following information was documented in the affidavit for probable cause, obtained by Daily Voice:
During an interview with Hoagland, detectives noticed what appeared to be blood stains on his green T-shirt. A search of his truck found a handcuff key and a pair of Crocs, which also appeared to have blood on them.
A search warrant executed on Warren’s phone found “numerous” watermarked videos from a Blink system installed in their Reid Street home, dating back to July 2023. The videos show Malinda crying and being yelled at by Warren and Hoagland and being told to perform “physical tasks” or being accused of misbehavior, like moving hair out of her face instead of performing calisthenics.
A video dated Jan. 27, 2024 shows Malinda chained to an air hockey table with a silver leg shackle, in which [Warren] is heard telling Malinda, through the Blink camera, to “keep moving and don’t look for breakfast or lunch tomorrow cause you’re not getting it. And you won’t get dinner either cause I’m not getting up.”
The affidavit cites more than 100 other clips of Malinda chained to furniture being berated by her “evil” stepmother and father. The last video captured as on May 2, 2024, and shows Malinda chained to a desk doing online school.
Texts between Malinda’s abusers. Some include discussions of her worsening condition, and indicate Hoagland was out shopping for smelling salts and mentioned calling an ambulance. Warren tells him not to call one, but does tell him to “run" her.
JUSTICE
“Malinda was subjected to evil and torment that no child should ever have to endure," said DA Christopher L. de Barrena-Sarobe.
"I am grateful to every first responder and law enforcement officer who has worked tirelessly on this case. Together we will get justice for Malinda.”
Court records show both adults are held in lieu of $1 million bonds.
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