Malinda Hoagland death: Chester County father pleads guilty to daughter's murder after years of abuse
A Chester County man has pleaded guilty to the murder of his 12-year-old daughter after years of horrific abuse.
Rendell Hoagland admitted Friday to his role in the death of his daughter, Malinda, inside his Coatesville home.
READ MORE | Father and stepmother charged with murder of girl, 12, who was abused, tortured and starved: DA
Prosecutors say the child was tortured over several years and ultimately starved to death. She died in May 2024, weighing just 50 pounds.
Malinda was "reprogrammed" to accept abuse as part of her life, investigators previously said during a news conference, and she didn't report the abuse because she was afraid of being beaten more severely than she already was.
SEE ALSO | Girl, 12, dies weighing just 50 pounds; DA says she was subjected to 'evil' and 'torment'
The investigation uncovered records of abuse dating back to November 2021.
Malinda was admitted to the hospital on May 4, 2024. Investigators say her father reported that she struck a tree while riding a bicycle at 12:30 a.m. She died while in surgery. An autopsy revealed that she died of starvation and multiple blunt-force injuries.
Hoagland's plea allows him to avoid the death penalty, but he will spend the rest of his life in prison.
His girlfriend, Cindy Warren, who is also charged in Malinda's death, is scheduled to go on trial this spring.
