Teenage girl found living in a cage in unimaginable house of horrors

Virginia Lujan, 55, and her girl Jami Hodges were arrested aft Melanie Lujan, 13, was recovered unresponsive and covered with sores and bruises astatine their location successful Arizona

A teenage miss has died aft her parent and grandma forced her to unrecorded successful horrific conditions successful a cage.

Just earlier 9pm connected Tuesday, constabulary were called to a spot successful Arizona, wherever they recovered Melanie Lujan, who wasn't breathing. Despite their champion efforts, Melanie had to beryllium rushed to hospital, wherever she underwent hours of treatment. She could not beryllium revived and was declared dormant connected Wednesday morning.

The 13-year-old - who was said to person the intelligence capableness of a toddler - was covered successful bruises and sores, according to Tempe police. Lujan, 55, told officers the teen had fallen down the stairs and that she didn't rise the alarm due to the fact that she thought she would beryllium okay.

After the teen's death, constabulary searched their home, wherever they recovered extended grounds of maltreatment and neglect. Police Chief Kenneth McCoy described the conditions arsenic "horrible", adding that she was being held successful a "makeshift cage" that was covered with quality waste.

Lujan and Jami Hodges, the girl's mother, confessed to abuse, saying they utilized the cage - which resembled a bunk furniture without the little fractional - to "maintain control" of Melanie. The little level was surrounded with bars and babe cages to pen her in.

"The location was precise disorderly. It was not precise clean. It conscionable was precise deplorable conditions, to accidental the least," Tempe Police Public Information Officer Jessica Ells said.

The parent and her 5 kids had each been staying with the 55-year-old. Four of the youngsters were nether Lujan's care. When questioned, Hodges told cops she didn't spot her girl often and that she was unaware she had go ill.

"The tragic nonaccomplishment of a kid is simply a profound reminder of our shared work to support the astir susceptible successful our community,' Chief McCoy said astatine a property conference.

"Investigations similar this request meticulous attraction to item and sensitivity to the affectional toll it takes connected everyone involved."

Both parent and granddaughter were taken into custody connected felony kid maltreatment charges. Hodges was aboriginal released pending charges. According to police, they could beryllium charged with murder.

The different children - who are aged betwixt 2 and 15 years aged - were taken into care. Police said nary of them were attending school. A constabulary probe is underway to uncover the grade of the maltreatment going connected successful the home, with neighbours present being interviewed.

"These circumstantial calls are conscionable heartbreaking. These are the calls you ne'er privation to person to spell on," Officer Ells said.