Ariz. Grandmother Indicted in Death of 13-Year-Old Found with Bruises in Makeshift Cage

The grandmother of a teenage girl who died after being found unresponsive and bruised in a makeshift cage has been indicted by a grand jury on child abuse charges in Arizona, authorities announced.

Virginia Lujan, 55, was indicted on eight counts, including child abuse, tampering with physical evidence, tampering with a witness and contributing to the dependency of a child, the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office said in a Feb. 5 press release.

According to prosecutors, Lujan called 911 — on a date not shared in the release — and reported that her 13-year-old granddaughter was unresponsive. 

When officers with the Tempe Police Department arrived on the scene, they found the girl inside a makeshift cage covered in marks and bruises, the release states. The girl was taken to the hospital, where she was pronounced dead.

During the investigation, officers found a bunk bed they claim had been “adapted into a makeshift enclosure where the victim was kept for extended periods of time, along with grossly unsanitary conditions throughout the home,” the prosecutor’s office said.

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Police previously said Lujan was temporarily taking care of her daughter’s five children and claimed the girl had fallen down the stairs, Fox 10 Phoenix reported. The girl’s mother was initially arrested along with Lujan, but she has since been released, pending charges, according to the outlet.

According to prosecutors, the girl suffered from a rare form of epilepsy and had cognitive impairments. They say she had the mental capacity of a 3-year-old.

Lujan is being held on a $500,000 secured appearance bond, prosecutors said. It’s unclear if she has entered a plea or retained an attorney to speak on her behalf.

If you suspect child abuse, call the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-4-A-Child or 1-800-422-4453, or go to www.childhelp.org. All calls are toll-free and confidential. The hotline is available 24/7 in more than 170 languages.