2-year-old girl died of hyperthermia as her parents failed to check on her for 20 hours after putting her to sleep in a closet with a heater “nearly” all the way up; parents charged
Indiana – In a disturbing case out of Indiana, two parents face severe legal consequences after their negligence led to the tragic death of their two-year-old daughter. The 21-year-old mother, identified as S. Perez, and the 23-year-old father, identified as J. Hirschy, have been charged with one count of neglect resulting in death and two counts of neglect of a dependent, following the hyperthermia death of their toddler in a heated closet.
The distressing situation came to light on the afternoon of November 27, 2024, when police responded to a distress call at an apartment complex, where the family resided. Officers were confronted with deplorable living conditions upon entering the apartment. The home was in a state of disrepair, with garbage strewn about, making navigation difficult. The kitchen was in a particularly dire state, with a pot containing mold and flies on the stove and an overwhelming presence of cockroaches.
The officers’ investigation led them to a closet in the bedroom, used by the couple as a makeshift nursery. There, they discovered the young victim unresponsive in a crib. The crib’s mattress was notably soiled, and the toddler was found in a heavily soiled diaper. The temperature inside the closet was dangerously high, ranging from 85 to 109 degrees Fahrenheit, significantly exacerbated by a space heater that had been left on.
According to police reports, Perez put her 2-year-old daughter to bed around 7 PM the previous night and turned the space heater “nearly” all the way up before closing the door to the closet almost entirely. Unfortunately, both parents fell asleep and did not check on the girl until after 3 PM the following day. By then, it was too late. The autopsy confirmed that the toddler had succumbed to hyperthermia, a condition where the body temperature soars well above safe levels.
The investigation revealed further disturbing details about the family’s living conditions. The other children in the home, a three-year-old and a five-year-old, were found to be suffering from lice and living under extremely unhealthy conditions. They have since been placed in the custody of the Department of Child Services.
Following their arrest, Perez and Hirschy were held in the county’s with a high bail set due to the severity of the charges. Their initial court appearance shed light on the tragic events, with the community and authorities expressing deep sorrow over the preventable death of the 2-year-old girl.
The couple is scheduled for a pretrial conference on February 14, 2025, with a jury trial set for March 7, 2025. The case has sparked a broader discussion about child safety and parental responsibilities within the community. This case is a somber reminder of the critical importance of vigilant childcare and the dire consequences of neglect. The loss of the 2-year-old girl is a profound tragedy, and the forthcoming trial will likely serve as a stern warning about the severe repercussions of neglecting the welfare of children.
