A 13-year-old Tempe girl, Melony Granados, has been ruled a homicide by the Maricopa County Medical Examiner after being found in a "makeshift cage" at her home. Officials discovered Granados with bruises and sores; her grandmother, Virginia Lujan, had claimed the injuries were from a fall and did not seek medical care, abc15 reported.
Granados was taken to a hospital but died the following morning, according to Tempe Police Chief Kenneth McCoy, as reported by KBTX.
Authorities took Lujan into custody on child abuse allegations, and further charges were being considered. However, Lujan later died of natural causes while in Maricopa County Jail, abc15 noted. The victim’s mother has been released, with potential charges still under review.
Other children in the household, aged 2 to 15, were removed and placed in state custody after being found in similar conditions and not attending school, according to Tempe police reports obtained by KBTX. Investigators continue to review the case to determine all circumstances surrounding Granados’ death.
