Arizona teenager dies after being kept in cage, police said

TEMPE, Ariz. — A 13-year-old girl is dead after being found unresponsive while being cared for by her grandmother, police said.

Tempe police were called to the home of Virginia Lujan on Tuesday evening after 9 p.m. when Lujan called 911 and reported that her 13-year-old granddaughter, who was in her care, was not breathing.

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Life-saving efforts were made and the girl was rushed to the hospital. After hours of life-saving measures by hospital staff, she died.

When officers were inside the home, police said officers saw she was covered in bruises and sores, all in various stages of healing. Because of how severe her condition was, the Criminal Investigations Bureau was notified. 

Lujan later told investigators the child fell down the stairs on Sunday night and told police that she did not seek medical attention for the child because she “believed the girl would be fine,” police said.

Police later learned the 13-year-old had a cognitive delay and had the mental capacity of a 3-year-old. 

Police said the girl’s mother, Jami Hodges, told police she was not aware of the girl’s fall. When detectives searched the home, they found what appeared to be a makeshift “cage” filled with feces and had a “foul odor,” police said.

The “cage” was part of a bunk bed were the lower bunk had been removed and covered in material.

Lujan and Hodges admitted to police that the girl was kept in the cage to “control her,” police said.

Four other children were living in the home and they have been placed in the custody of the Department of Child Safety. Tempe police said none of the children had been attending school.

Lujan and Hodges were arrested and are facing felony child abuse charges.

Police said Hodges was arrested and released “pending charges.” The investigation is ongoing and more charges could be pending as more evidence is discovered.

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