Father pleads guilty to murder in 12-year-old Malinda Hoagland's death
Rendell Hoagland pleaded guilty Friday to first-degree murder and conspiracy for his admitted role in the death of his 12-year-old daughter, Malinda Hoagland.
Chester County prosecutors said the torture inflicted on her came despite the fact that she was a straight-A student, a little girl who wrote essays of love for her family.
Prosecutors detailed in court Friday the severe, repeated beatings, starvation and torture of Malinda. They say it spanned years.
The torment was captured on surveillance cameras that detectives said Rendell Hoagland and his partner, Cindy Warren, had installed in living areas and bedrooms inside their Coatesville-area home.
On May 4, 2024, Malinda was rushed to Paoli Hospital. Prosecutors say Hoagland first told police Malinda got hurt after falling off her bike. When arriving at the ER, Malinda was unconscious and emaciated, weighing only 50 pounds.
Hoagland's guilty plea spares him the death penalty. He'll spend the rest of his life in prison without the possibility of parole. He declined to comment when the judge asked if he had anything to say.
Warren has pleaded not guilty and is scheduled for trial later this spring.
The couple was accused of removing Malinda from school in late 2023 and enrolling her in a cyber charter academy. Prosecutors said in early 2024, Hoagland and Warren ramped up their abuse. Lawsuits have been filed on behalf of the family, accusing Chester County Children, Youth, and Families of failing to follow up on red flags after she withdrew from school. The agency has said it won't comment on pending litigation.
Malinda's half-sisters say it is their prayer that no family ever has to go through the pain and trauma this has caused.
Attorneys for Hoagland said the guilty plea puts the case behind him and that he accepted responsibility.