WEST CHESTER, Pa. (KYW Newsradio) — A couple accused of abusing a 12-year-old girl who died have waived their rights to a preliminary hearing. The girl's father and his fiancée are facing a long list of charges, including first-degree murder.
With handcuffs around their wrists, Rendell Hoagland and Cindy Warren made a brief appearance Thursday in a Chester County courtroom, where they both waived their preliminary hearing.
The case now heads to Common Pleas Court. The couple's formal arraignment is scheduled for Sept. 12.
In their criminal case, they face charges including first-degree murder after investigators found evidence of abuse, including torture and starvation after Hoagland's 12-year-old daughter Malinda died on May 4.
According to an affidavit, Hoagland called 911, saying Malinda had hit a tree while riding a bike.
The girl was rushed to the hospital, where doctors found she had several broken bones and her internal organs were failing. She weighed 50 pounds at the time of her death.
Family members of Malinda sat together during the brief hearing Thursday afternoon. They say they vow to keep fighting for her.
"Today brought what I was hoping it would bring. It brought a sense of justice to it," said Malinda's sister, Jamie Hoagland.
"It's their right to waive it or not. Obviously, they didn't want to fight. That's their right to not fight. That doesn't mean that we aren't going to fight. We are here for Malinda. We're not here for them."
Rendell Hoagland's sister, Rhonda Thomas, told reporters that Malinda had been a kind and happy kid.
"I hope that she's at peace. And we're here to fight for her and to make sure this doesn't happen again."
Attorneys representing Hoagland and Warren declined to comment.
