A woman and her partner in South Carolina have been convicted for the death of her 13-year-old daughter in 2019 due to neglectful actions. The victim, Cristina Pangalangan, who was wheelchair-bound and non-verbal, relied solely on her mother Rita for care. On a hot summer day in August, Rita and her boyfriend, Larry King Jr., left Cristina inside the family car while they were outside and then inside the house for an extended period, which lasted over 5 hours and 42 minutes according to court records.
During the trial, evidence indicated that Rita and King had an argument and went inside the house where they engaged in sexual activity. Rita attempted to retrieve cigarettes from the locked car, leading to a sequence of events where they searched for a spare key, unsuccessfully tried to unlock the car, and eventually found Cristina lifeless after gaining access. Despite the high temperatures inside the car, reaching over 46 degrees Celsius (115 degrees Fahrenheit), the adults failed to promptly assist the girl, displaying what the prosecution described as a complete disregard for her safety.
The defense argued that the tragic incident was accidental, attributing the lapse in judgment to their alleged consumption of methamphetamine. Rita Pangalangan’s lawyer emphasized that while the situation was regrettable, it did not constitute murder. Family testimonies shed light on the bond between the mother and daughter, with Rita portrayed as caring and committed to Cristina’s well-being.
Following the court proceedings, Rita and King were convicted of murder and related charges for causing severe harm. Rita was sentenced to 37 years for murder and 20 years for causing bodily harm, while King received a 32-year sentence for murder and a concurrent 20-year sentence for causing bodily harm.