If you’re unable or unwilling to care for a child, seek help from a relative, or contact child protective services. Every child deserves love, safety, and a chance at life.
Tragically, little Zaelynn never got that chance.
In November 2024, police in Berne, Indiana, responded to a death investigation that shocked even veteran officers. They found two-year-old Zaelynn dead after being forced to sleep in a closet with a space heater — temperatures inside reached 109°F.
Her parents, Sintia Perez and Jace Hirschy, said they didn’t check on her for over 18 hours. An autopsy confirmed she died of hyperthermia. The closet was filthy, and the child lay on a soiled mattress with an unchanged diaper.
Their home was infested with cockroaches and mold. The couple’s other two children, found with lice and living in squalor, were placed in protective custody.
Perez and Hirschy now face multiple charges, including Neglect of a Dependent Resulting in Death. Their trial is set for March 7, 2025.
Zaelynn was remembered as a joyful little girl with bright blue eyes and a playful spirit. Her death must not be forgotten.
If you suspect child abuse, call 1-800-4-A-CHILD or visit www.childhelp.org. Help is available 24/7.