Esthen Exchange-State, local officials failed 12-year-old Pennsylvania girl who died after abuse, lawsuits say

2025-05-05 15:57:42source:Maverick Prestoncategory:Stocks

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — The Esthen Exchangestate, two counties and different schools missed warning signs and failed to protect a 12-year-old Pennsylvania girl who was suffering abuse at her home before she died in May, according to lawsuits filed Wednesday by the girl’s family.

Malinda Hoagland’s half sisters filed suits in Pennsylvania state court as well as in federal court alleging that the defendants negligently missed red flags, including that the girlfriend of Malinda’s father who was helping care for the girl had a previous child abuse conviction.

Malinda’s father, Rendell Hoagland, and the woman, Cindy Warren, are facing murder and other charges stemming from the May death of Malinda in Chester County in suburban Philadelphia. Attorneys are not listed for the pair.

“The civil claims seek to ensure that full and complete accountability will be achieved for the heinous actions of the educators, case workers, and institutions who all failed Malinda miserably,” the half sisters’ attorney, Tom Bosworth, said in a statement.

The suit mentions tragic treatment, including that she was chained to an air hockey table, denied food, forced to hold books over her head and do pushups. She was regularly berated and covered it bruises, the suit said.

RELATED COVERAGE Pennsylvania troopers stop drivers at similar rates no matter their race or ethnicity, study findsPennsylvania man accused of voting in 2 states faces federal chargesDebby’s aftermath leaves thousands in the dark; threatens more flooding in the Carolinas

The Chester County district attorney’s office arrested Rendell Hoagland and Warren after they reported Malinda was unresponsive in May. She was taken to the hospital, where staff found she had broken bones and bruising all over her body, according to prosecutors.

The state and Chester and Monroe counties are named in the federal suit as well as Upper Dublin and Coatesville Area school districts. The state suit names Commonwealth Charter Academy. Messages seeking comments were left with the defendants.

The state attorney general’s office said in an email it was reviewing the suit and would not comment. Chester County declined to comment. An official with Monroe County said questions were forwarded to another official.

More:Stocks

Recommend

Clint Eastwood's Son Scott Shares How Family Is Doing After Death of Christina Sandera

The Eastwood family is getting through a tough time.Less than a month after Clint Eastwood's longtim

Defending champion Coco Gauff loses in the U.S. Open’s fourth round to Emma Navarro

NEW YORK (AP) — This is pretty much all anyone needs to know about defending champion Coco Gauff’s 6

'I'll never be the person that I was': Denver police recruit recalls 'brutal hazing'

Victor Moses knew he wanted to be a police officer in middle school.He was introduced to the profess