HomeLatest NewsArizona girl’s death ruled homicide after she was allegedly kept in cage...

Arizona girl’s death ruled homicide after she was allegedly kept in cage at grandmother’s home: report

Published on

Featured

Egregious Firearms Safety Violations End Predictably

Watch full video on YouTube

29 Secret Camping Gear & Gadgets On AMAZON 2026

watch full video on YouTube

NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!

The death of a 13-year-old girl with epilepsy has reportedly been ruled a homicide after authorities said she had been kept in a “makeshift cage” inside her grandmother’s Arizona home.

Melony Granados, who suffered from a rare form of epilepsy and cognitive impairments that left her functioning at the level of a 3-year-old, had been in the care of her grandmother, Virginia Lujan. 

Lujan, 55, was charged in February with child abuse and related offenses in the teen’s death, prosecutors said.

The Maricopa County Medical Examiner’s Office recently confirmed Granados’ death was ruled a homicide, ABC15 reported.

MYSTERY OF BABIES ABANDONED AT PARK IN 1989 SOLVED AFTER MOTHER ID’D AS WOMAN FOUND MURDERED IN DESERT

The Tempe Police Department had been awaiting the medical examiner’s report before considering additional charges. However, Lujan died last month of natural causes while in custody at the Maricopa County Jail, ABC15 reported, citing a spokesperson for the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office.

911 CALLS, POLICE REPORT DETAILS DARK TIMELINE TO ARIZONA GIRL’S TRAGIC DEATH

On Jan. 20, Lujan called 911 to report Granados was unresponsive inside their Tempe townhouse. Officers found the girl on the living room floor with extensive bruising. Lujan told investigators her granddaughter had fallen down the stairs, according to ABC15. 

Granados died at a hospital the following day.

Investigators said the home was "filthy," with trash, insects and unsanitary conditions.

Investigators said their home was “filthy,” with trash, insects and unsanitary conditions. They discovered a bunk bed that had been converted into a makeshift cage, with baby gates and rails zip-tied to the frame and human waste inside the enclosure, prosecutors said. 

9-YEAR-OLD CANADIAN GIRL WHOSE FATHER WAS CHARGED WITH HER MURDER WAS DROWNED, AUTHORITIES SAY

“While investigating, officers discovered a bunk bed that 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 Maricopa County Attorney’s Office said at the time.

Granados, who had epilepsy and severe cognitive impairments, was one of five children belonging to Lujan’s daughter, Jami Hodges. Hodges had previously transferred custody of four of her children to Lujan.

Police units responds to the scene of an emergency.

In February, Lujan was indicted on charges, including child abuse, evidence tampering and contributing to the dependency of a child, according to the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office.

The Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office, Maricopa County Attorney’s Office and Tempe Police Department did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment. A spokesperson for the Maricopa County Medical Examiner’s Office declined to comment.

Fox News Digital’s Michael Dorgan contributed to this report.

Read the full article here

Latest articles

The Glock 19 Gen 3 vs. Gen 5 Comparison: Are They Really Any Different?

As a kid, I loved studying dinosaurs, finding them fascinating. Eventually, I grew into...

Launching a War on Iran Was No Act of Courage

This article was originally published by Connor O’Keeffe at The Mises Institute.  After Trump ordered...

The New Beretta Px4 Storm G-SD: A Range Review

The Beretta Px4 Storm is something of a sleeper gun. It is neither obscure...

Virginia Legislature Passes Bill Banning Sale and Purchase of “Assault Firearms” and Magazines Over 15 Rounds

Key Takeaways Virginia Senate Bill 749 bans the purchase, sale, and transfer of certain firearms...

More like this

Why Is This One Of The Most Rare S&W Revolvers?

Watch full video on YouTube

Egregious Firearms Safety Violations End Predictably

Watch full video on YouTube

29 Secret Camping Gear & Gadgets On AMAZON 2026

watch full video on YouTube