Pennsylvania – In a deeply disturbing case that shocked Pennsylvania, a 54-year-old father, identified as R. Hoagland, has been sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole after pleading guilty to the systematic torture and murder of his 12-year-old daughter, who died weighing just 50 pounds. The case, which initially drew national attention due to its horrifying details, has now reached a grim milestone in the pursuit of justice.
The father pleaded guilty to first-degree murder, as well as conspiracy, kidnapping, and multiple related charges tied to the abuse and death of his daughter. His plea came as part of a two-hour hearing in court, where he openly admitted to repeatedly and systematically abusing his daughter over a period of years. The plea deal, reached in consultation with the victim’s family, spared Hoagland a capital trial—prosecutors had previously announced they would pursue the death penalty due to the “egregious and prolonged nature of the abuse.”
On May 4, 2024, Hoagland called 911 around 12:30 a.m., reporting that his daughter had struck a tree while biking. But when police arrived at the family’s home, they found a 12-year-old girl who was barely alive, visibly emaciated, and covered in bruises and injuries. The 12-year-old girl was rushed into emergency surgery but died on the operating table. The autopsy revealed the true cause of death: starvation and multiple blunt-force injuries. Medical examiners counted more than 75 injuries on her body. She had at least six broken bones, no body fat, and appeared to have been enduring long-term abuse. Investigators quickly determined that Hoagland’s story was false. Detectives uncovered home surveillance footage, as well as text messages and hundreds of videos, documenting the abuse the girl suffered at the hands of her father and her 45-year-old stepmother, identified as C. Warren.
According to District Attorney C. Sarobe, the videos showed the young girl being handcuffed by her ankles to furniture, denied food, and forced to do exercises like squats or running in place—often while shackled. The punishments were imposed for minor or imagined infractions. Hoagland and Warren reportedly padlocked food away and starved the 12-year-old girl for days at a time. In one video, they can be heard verbally berating her, dehumanizing and humiliating her repeatedly.
The victim lived under constant threat. The DA noted that she had become “reprogrammed to accept abuse as normal,” too afraid to speak out for fear of even harsher punishment. While the 12-year-old endured this nightmare, a 9-year-old child—Warren’s biological son—lived in the same home but was well-fed and unharmed, highlighting the targeted cruelty aimed specifically at the girl.
Records later revealed that Warren had a previous conviction in 2009 for child endangerment stemming from the death of her stepdaughter and the abuse of her son. She had reportedly lied to protect her then-husband during that case. Despite her history, she had returned to a household where another child would later die. Warren was arrested alongside Hoagland in May 2024. While Hoagland has now been sentenced, Warren’s trial is scheduled for June 8.
At the plea and sentencing hearing, first responders shared the emotional toll of discovering the victim’s broken body. Members of her extended family also spoke, describing the pain of losing a child in such horrific circumstances. The case has raised serious questions about how such prolonged abuse could go unnoticed. Despite concerns raised previously by the local school district, no intervention was made. The young girl’s story now stands as a harrowing reminder of the consequences of systemic failure — and the cruelty that can thrive behind closed doors when warning signs are missed.
