The idea of keeping a child in a cage for any period of time is heart-wrenching. Tragically, a 13-year-old with special needs recently died after suffering abuse, including being kept in a makeshift cage. The grandmother has since been charged in the disabled teen’s death.
Virginia Lujan, 55, of Tempe, Arizona, was recently arrested in connection to the death of her granddaughter, 13, who had the mental capacity of a 3-year-old. The girl’s mother, Jami Hodges, was also arrested in the incident. And the details emerging from this case are seriously disturbing.
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On January 21, the grandmother called 911.
At roughly 9 p.m. on January 21, 2025, Lujan called 911 about her unresponsive granddaughter, ABC 15 reported. The 13-year-old was reportedly covered in bruises and sores. Although she was transported to a local hospital, she was pronounced dead the next morning.
Lujan reportedly told police that her granddaughter fell down stairs on January 19. However, she did not seek medical attention for the teenager because she believed she would be fine.
The condition of the home was ‘very disorderly.’
After the 13-year-old’s death, officers searched Lujan’s home, AZ Family reported. Jessica Ells, a spokesperson for the Tempe Police Department described the residence as “very disorderly” and “not very clean.” Additionally, officers discovered a makeshift cage.
Police also described the makeshift cage.
“The best way to describe it, it was a bunk bed, but the lower bed of that bunk was not there,” Ells explained. “And the bunk bed around the bottom was surrounded by baby cages and makeshift bars.”
“It was just very deplorable conditions to say the least,” she added, noting the cage was “full of feces and had a foul odor.”
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Allegedly, Lujan and Hodges admitted to keeping the teen in the cage.
According to Police, Lujan and Hodges admitted to keeping the 13-year-old in the cage, ABC 15 reported. They did so to “keep control of her,” as she had serious cognitive delays.
Hodges was temporarily staying with Lujan, who reportedly cared for all five of Hodges’ children. The other four kids are in the custody of the Department of Child Safety.
The grandmother was charged in relation to the disabled teen’s death.
Lujan and Hodges were both arrested, AZ Family reported. Later, Hodges was released as the investigation continued and charges were pending. Meanwhile, Lujan was booked on child abuse felonies; more charges could come.
“The tragic loss of a child is a profound reminder of our shared responsibility to protect the most vulnerable in our community,” Tempe Police Department Chief McCoy told the publication. “Investigations like this demand meticulous attention to detail and sensitivity to the emotional toll it takes on everyone involved.”
