A heartbreaking tragedy unfolded in Berne, Indiana, where a young couple is now facing serious charges after their 2-year-old daughter was found dead in a closet with a space heater. The toddler’s body temperature was nearly 109 degrees when authorities discovered her, according to court documents shared with media.
The parents, Sintia Perez, 21, and Jace Hirschy, 23, have been charged with one count of neglect of a child resulting in death and two counts of neglect of a dependent. They lived with their three young children—ages 2, 3, and 5—in an apartment in Berne, a small city about 110 miles northeast of Indianapolis.
The incident came to light on November 27, when Hirschy called the Adams County Sheriff’s Office for help. Police, paramedics, and the Department of Child Services rushed to the home, where they discovered the tragic scene.
When Berne Police Assistant Chief James Newbold arrived, he was directed to the main bedroom, then to a 6-by-8-foot closet where the toddler was found. He immediately noticed how much hotter it was inside the closet compared to the rest of the room. “The heat was much more intense in the closet,” Newbold wrote in his report.
Inside the small space, officers found the 2-year-old lying on her side in a crib. A space heater had been left on, and the closet door had been “nearly closed” overnight, according to Perez’s account.
Using a thermal device, investigators measured temperatures inside the closet: the ceiling was over 108 degrees, and the crib rail was over 101 degrees. The toddler’s body temperature was measured twice, showing 108.8 and 109.4 degrees—indicating she died from hyperthermia, or severe overheating.
Perez told investigators she had put her daughter to bed in the closet around 7 p.m. on November 26, with the heater running. Neither she nor Hirschy checked on the child until after 3 p.m. the next day. By then, it was too late.
An autopsy confirmed the child died from prolonged exposure to extreme heat. Meanwhile, the family’s other two children were removed from the home by child welfare officials. The living conditions inside the apartment were described as “extremely unhealthy,” with lice infestations and poor hygiene adding to the concerning situation.
Court records show both parents are being represented by the Adams County Public Defender’s Office. While neither is currently in custody, they are expected to appear in court again on February 14 for a pretrial conference, with a jury trial scheduled for March.
This devastating case serves as a grim reminder of the dangers of unsafe living conditions and the need for vigilance when it comes to children’s well-being.
