Lovers' Meth Bender Leads to Hot Car Homicide | Christina Pangalangan Case Analysis

[@JReybabay]

Hats off to the baby sitter who watched the child 5x longer than she supposed to

[@evonne315]

Sadly this is par for the course when you babysit for irresponsible people. The girl was good to stay, responsible, but too inexperienced to handle these sick people. They rely on "nice people" to get away with things. They walked all over her.

[@coll4455]

Right

[@lhr8833]

And without enough food for her or the child, not many people would accept that. They definitely abused her kindness.

[@annjepsen1621]

When I was 12yrs old I babysat two kids for 11hrs (was supposed to be 6hrs). My parents were livid, but I was thrilled with the $11 I earned. Even 30yrs ago, $1 an hour for two kids is slave wages but I was happy to get it.

[@littleeva]

The baby sitter really was the best witness. She showed what type of person Rita was. I think her testimony turned the case for many people.

[@user-is7ze1dn5b]

Truly a sad story. I used to be a nurse for disabled children. The worst thing that happened to me while caring for them, was finding out how alert, sensitive and in need of love they are, just like everyone else. Truly very sad, how this angel must have suffered in her life.

[@Andreamom001]

I have a friend whose adult daughter has CP and can’t walk or talk. Her mom loves her and dotes on her and gives her gifts and takes her places and makes her life as rich and full as she can. She has been caring for her daughter with love for decades. Stories like this break my heart and make me so mad. The hat girl deserves love and care.

[@Adrianafaith123]

So heartbreaking😭😭😭

[@amyhenningsgard8618]

💔😭💔😭I wish we could turn back time and save her!

[@aybaws]

Parents should be allowed to abort/euthanize a child if it's going to be born severely disabled. Forcing someone to take care of a immobile husk that has no personality is life-draining and will breed extreme resentment which can lead to this outcome.

[@azuresonic69]

​@@aybawssad, but true.

[@nanobotless864]

I suspect all those moments of embrace while Christina was locked in the hot car were to alleviate feelings of guilt or conflict as to the killing of the child. Like, "I know this is hard, but its the only way."

[@duvessa2003]

I don’t think so. The bf did call 911 so i doubt he was in on a plot to kill the girl. I believe the mother cared about her daughter enough that if she were going to kill her she would’ve done it in a less cruel way. No, I think these two were just completely oblivious and the mother was in the habit of neglecting her child.

[@tinak6484]

That makes sense. That seemed so strange to me

[@HeatherHolt]

I think she was passed out during the first check, the “mom” was stupid and thought she was already dead, that’s why they hugged right after. She went in and said oh Larry she’s dead. He went outside w her, to the porch, they hugged, then had sex! then had to come up with a plan to make it look like it was an accident. Must my thoughts.

[@TyrellaChantelle]

Yes this was planned

[@YayMiko]

I agree

[@catking396]

I will never understand why these parents don’t just surrender the child to CPS instead of severely neglecting them and murdering them. Why? Poor child, she did not deserve this

[@lisamac8503]

Money She was getting aid for her disabled child If she was getting money she would never let that go Drugs cost money .........Ugly people Inside and out

[@OneBentMonkey]

Because if they did they wouldn’t get the additional welfare benefits to spend on themselves and, in this case, drugs.

[@michaelreid2329]

I suspect the mother would attract a child support pension of some form.

[@laurenmay2098]

Money, the kid maybe had SS for disabled.

[@NeeNee_B.]

State benefits, unfortunately smh

[@tommytwomommy]

“She couldn’t even scream for help, not that they would’ve cared” That line from the closing argument stuck with me. They knew what was happening.

[@BaDazai]

It seemd VERY intentional. They kept going back and forth to the car to check if she was dead yet. 😢

[@esteemedmortal5917]

My thoughts exactly

[@melissademarco5271]

💯

[@ginaharden2111]

As well, I noticed they didn't try to talk to her and tell her they were trying to get her out or that they were going for a duplicate key. Calling police to break in the car was an option. She suffered a lot. They said she was sunburned and blistered. It wouldn't be surprising if she had seizures from the heat, anxiety and fear, ....especially considering she had a history of seizures.

[@BHarly]

That’s what I saw to ! So Sick what they did jail isn’t good enough in my opinion.

[@groverhateselmo]

It sure seems so

[@LDiamondz]

In the trial, the couple's lawyer and Pangolangan's boyfriend kept insisting the car and air conditioner was on. As if that makes it ok to leave a child in a car for that long. Especially a disabled child who needs constant care. None of what they did was ok. Drugs as an excuse, doesn't count as a defense. These 2 were indefensible and murdered that poor child. They are both to blame and are equally disgusting human beings.

[@survivingitall5263]

exactly! 5.5 hrs with no drink, food or diaper change is still incredible neglect

[@cleec83]

Exactly!!

[@derekd1510]

If it was on, it wasn't working. She had a temperature of 109^ when the paramedics got there.

[@timsterz1]

How would the child have sustained blisters on her skin and died from Hyperthermia if the AC was on anyway? And what in the hell made any of this seem ok to them? There is just no excuse!

[@LDiamondz]

@@timsterz1 Yeah, pretty sure they were lying. They even checked the car twice, and left the child in there. In court, witnesses testified Pangalangan had put the child, alone, in the car before, on purpose. Not for very long though. Still NOT ok. Her and her boyfriend claimed meth made them do it. If not for meth, they wouldn't have done it. Sure, we believe you. Smh.

[@arinerm1331]

I can't help wondering whether this was an accident-on-purpose. It sure seems as though Christina's mother loved her drugs more than she loved her daughter, whom she most likely viewed as a burden.

[@jrb4347]

Completely on purpose. 5 plus hours … tried to get her cigarettes from the car, even drove away and came back. Are there no windows in the car that they couldn’t see was still in there after 5 hours passed out with the windows up. I’d imagine the child even cried. This was done with intent for sure

[@evonne315]

I totally think it was an accident-on purpose. My cousin had cerebral palsy, if left alone or unattended, he could literally choke on his own tounge. Its that serious a disability. That mom KNEW how dangerous her actions were. I think her meth head brain is so messed up she thought this would look like an innocent accident. I am glad SC saw the malice in her.

[@dissidentfairy4264]

I tend to agree that it was either deliberate or subliminally deliberate and what about the previous burns on her face? More of the same only not quite as lethal?

[@HeatherHolt]

And a paycheck surely

[@joewright6095]

This was definitely on purpose. Anyone would have called a locksmith and threw a brick through the window to save someone. I grew up around drug addicts and I used to party hard myself. I'm so tired of people blaming drugs or mental illness in today's society. The truth is there is evil people in the world. Shit like this would have happened if they were partying or sober.

[@SummaGirl1347]

Sadly, this is not an unusual occurrence. There is an entire website and international day of mourning dedicated to memorializing disabled people (mostly children) who are killed by their family members. Most congenitally disabled people (myself, included) experience severe neglect and/or abuse at some time in their lives. May you rest in peace, Christina. Your mother certainly deserves the punishment she is now receiving.

[@pseudonymhacklife4111]

I had no idea. This shocked me to tears.

[@terrystokes2948]

Am I the only person who watched this with their jaw on the floor as they walked back and forth in the house, sat on the porch, drove off, had sex... as the baby sat in that car? I'm speechless!

[@jagss]

Three of us.

[@laineyerin5801]

4 observant and caring ppl here 😢

[@MsAdreaL]

5

[@aliciabarnett4029]

6

[@sunflowerlove60]

Not at all! I’ve sat in my car ten minutes on a hot day and felt I couldn’t breathe this was torture:( if they cared a window would’ve been broken in 20mins max

[@icturner23]

From her testimony I think the babysitter WAS aware of Christina’s needs - she went far above and beyond to care for her for two days after being abandoned. Even leaving aside the murder, the couple’s disgraceful behaviour towards that teen babysitter shows what they are like.

[@gabriellenojaim261]

I'm wondering what the eventful outcome would have been had the sitter called the police when she found she couldn't get a hold of the mother...? At 18 it's difficult to think she was living on HER own so I'm wondering how she explained her absence to her own mom (or whoever SHE lived with?)

[@J7pat7]

@@gabriellenojaim261 Probably just told the truth which is that she couldn't get hold of the mother so wont be back home until then.

[@DroneStrike1776]

Already 1 min in and my heart is broken for that young girl. She was given a horrible chance at a normal life.

[@Mechaneer]

Yeah her mom fucked her up from the get go by doing meth while she was in the womb.

[@jhoughjr1]

Brought to you by meth

[@kingcosworth2643]

Man, I had a problem with opiate dependence after a series of serious injuries and taking oxycontin. The oz government made doctors strip these off their patients causing many to turn to street drugs as the physical dependence was still there. Some of the people and their children and the way they live would blow your mind. When female dealer (most old dealers are women because the men get locked up for much longer and they are all doing time) had a 15 year old daughter, daughter had a habit, mum was always nodded off on the coach, mum had to be narcaned 5 times in the brief period I knew her, the house had junk from floor to ceiling in every room except the lounge room, constant strangers coming into the house, police raids, oh and it was a government house, didn't cost her anything, if the plumbing got blocked, gov would pay for the plumber, carpet needed replacing once a year, gov paid for it. When you see it you can fully understand how this generational welfare and low class existing just continues on and on and on. Jesus, that class and the way they exist you simply could not imagine if you grew up at least middle class.

[@TheDealMaster]

This is one of the most disgusting cases ever. I watched the entire trial. This was despicable. When they were swinging in the porch swing, while the child was roasting alive..... I almost could not believe what I was seeing....

[@amyhenningsgard8618]

Inconceivable, right?!💔😭

[@julesvern-u4e]

im still not sure why anyone thinks the man was responsible for any of this.. its not his kid and the child's mother was right there. sure, hes moron but he is not responsible for some womens kid.

[@jessetm7732]

@@julesvern-u4eare you serious? if a child is in danger and you’re aware of it, it is your responsibility. he knew that little girl was in there, burning. you’re as sick as them if you’re trying to make excuses because “well, wasn’t his kid” 🤢🤢🤢

[@kevintse2870]

@@jessetm7732he’s your typical manosphere cultist.

[@JasonTan-9757]

​@@julesvern-u4e Because you are still responsible for the child's safety if the child is living in your house.

[@gabe-po9yi]

I think she killed her daughter on purpose and thought she’d be found merely negligent. It’s obvious Rita viewed Christina as a burden, an inconvenience and an obstacle to her pursuit of a life of meth and boyfriend.

[@gennyolson2257]

I agree. If the child could not walk, why didn't they just put her in the house?

[@catherineblair550]

You have never been on meth have you?

[@swiatlowiekuiste]

If she was on meth then it could also be negligence.

[@linsioux217]

I agree!

[@katiec972]

@@swiatlowiekuistein what world? She chose to take the meth, it’s 100% on her

[@LMoon20]

As mother to a profoundly disabled child, this case has completely sickened me. Yes, it’s not an easy life but my child is a gift. All of my family have learned a lot about life and ourselves just by having him in our lives.

[@jessiefrye3045]

That woman does not have A MOTHERS LOVE for her child My Aunt had a baby in 1952, baby was severely brain damaged from forceps delivery. Dr's BEGGED her to put her in an institution. She refused. Took her baby home. That baby, was 20 when I was born. As I grew up, I noticed, everyone doted on "our baby" . She was everyone's sweetie. Everyone's joy. My Aunt took care of her for 62 years. THAT. is a Mother's LOVE. My Aunt passed away the year after her daughter. Without her baby, she just couldn't go on.

[@StAlphonsusHasAPosse]

What a beautiful comment ❤️

[@creatorsonthecrest]

Exactly as it should be. Thank you for sharing this, as it is a ray of light and hope for humanity. ❤

[@donnarupert4926]

God rest their souls😔💕

[@joewright6095]

This was definitely on purpose. Anyone would have called a locksmith and threw a brick through the window to save someone. I grew up around drug addicts and I used to party hard myself. I'm so tired of people blaming drugs or mental illness in today's society. The truth is there is evil people in the world. Shit like this would have happened if they were partying or sober.

[@morticiaheisenberg9679]

100%!!!

[@CharMinsky]

So you have control of your demons? Good on you. Drugs lie, it’s horrendous. Best wishes going forward. Praying for peace and safety.

[@steve10]

​@@CharMinskystop making excuses , they are pure scum and the mother deserves to suffer , hopefully other prisoners get their hands on her and her life is an utter misery for the rest of her life

[@RadicalAngel]

💯💯💯

[@dahliafiend]

@@CharMinskyya drugs don’t turn me into a murdering sociopath. That shouldn’t be a bold statement but a lot of predatory people have tried to lay blame on drugs or porn or childhood for why they are who they are.

[@littleeva]

The judge was fantastic in this case. He really threw shade on Rita and Larry and sentenced them correctly. They kept saying that the AC was on in the car, even if it was, look where the car was, out in the hot sun with no shade. Even if the AC was on, Christina still would have died because of the heat, she still would have has blisters on her body because of the sun. How can you leave somebody in a car with the sun beating down on them? The judge was right, it was murder.

[@camillecoccagna194]

The judge was Murdaughs judge

[@Connection-Lost]

If the AC was on, it would have been really nice in the car. The windows were all tinted so the sunlight wouldn't be that bad. But, the AC wasn't on.

[@NeeNee_B.]

​@@Connection-Lostthe back window was tinted too?? That sedan is pretty small, I know the sun used to beat on the back of my neck from the right angle in my Honda

[@Elleffe]

Judge Clifton Newman is amazing - he oversaw the Murdaugh murders case and he was excellent in that too

[@friibird]

Because I live as a traveling gig worker, I make camp out of my SUV often. People so underestimate how quickly vehicles warm up, even with good tint and strong ac. If it's sunny my ac feels like it's going out, it simply cannot keep up. If it's well shaded on any day above 75° F with windows vented, it still gets hot shockingly fast. Dense shade or, like I'm currently doing with a reflective tarp braced with a topline and spacers to create big airflow, do work wonders but they take a lot of work to create. Open fields and parking lots are some of the hottest places, outright miserable without the right steps. It would have already been obviously warm by the time they put her in the car that morning, unless like Todd said it had been running the ac all night, but then it probably would have also run out of gas, yknow? I never sleep past 9 except on cold days because it's always hot enough to wake me up before then. The heat was present from minute one, there is no not knowing or feeling that.

[@Mr.Morden]

Protip for getting into a locked car: First make sure the window glass is really clean. Then get two brand new or well functioning toilet plungers and stick them to the window so that you are able to easily grasp both tightly at the bases of their handles. Pull out on both of the plungers just enough so they exert good suction force. Then simultaneously pull down on the plungers and the window will move down enough to reach an arm in the car and unlock the door.

[@little1942]

Interesting.

[@Hadria7777]

A brick works too 😂

[@kate4biglittlevoices]

Wow- good to know , also,‘so now In emergency, my ex had gotten into our locked car twice but he was a McGuiver- And I agree when it’s the life of a child- a brick or bat

[@saltinawenchito898]

​@@Hadria7777if you decide to use a brick, smash your front window. It's the fastest, easiest and cheapest window to replace on most vehicles.

[@sheilagravely5621]

Nah, I'm good with a brick.😊

[@GigiRulesTheRoost]

What a horrific way for that poor little girl to expire. I'm sure there was immense suffering. What monsters those 2 creatures are.

[@michaelreid2329]

I suspect her child would have fallen asleep and died without suffering.

[@annharris8550]

@@michaelreid2329I’m sure we would like to believe that, but that baby was baked to death like dying in a hot oven. She suffered terribly.

[@badabing-g4g]

​@@michaelreid2329hard to fall asleep in that kind of heat and would've woken up when the body went into distress. It's stifling similar to suffocation, and nauseating at the same time. And worst of all probably thinking why is my mommy doing this to me

[@ChristelVinot]

@@michaelreid2329 you can fall asleep and die in the cold. but the heat isn't quite the same.. sadly.

[@Love-like-Lucy]

This is so awful. Our children should always come first. 😢 Nothing should come before our children, especially not drugs and alcohol.

[@peteywheatstraws4909]

That's not how addiction works. The drug/alcohol is the star of the show. Always.

[@HeatherHolt]

Unfortunately thats not how all “parents” think. Even things like a boyfriend or girlfriend can become more important. Many “parents” resent their children. It’s disgusting. Every child deserves a parent but not every parent deserves a child.

[@HeatherHolt]

@@peteywheatstraws4909I disagree. There are plenty of functioning addicts that still care for their child above their addictions. They’re just able to do both successfully. I’ve seen it first hand.

[@alyssaheller7860]

I dont think addiction caused this.

[@dawnrobbins5877]

Or boyfriends.

[@elizabethhamm5320]

That poor little girl. Clearly her mother resented the responsibility and she took it out on a completely helpless child. She and Larry as well as CPS dehumanized Christina. I hope that Christina is finally at peace

[@Redspeciality]

Boy I get tired of everybody saying “I hope they are resting in peace” all the time. She is DEAD, she is not resting, she is not in peace, she is not in anything. She is gone.

[@Hendrixhimself]

It's a thing people say to show respect for the dead, you don't have to take it literally. And people have different beliefs you know, you should show respect for that as well, especially when it comes to death and people in sorrow

[@lynzannabel6990]

@@Hendrixhimself Well said and I agree with you.

[@Redspeciality]

@@Hendrixhimself yeah, well you want to show respect, you say “sorry for your loss” to the deceased’s survivors, but wishing the dead person to do something doesnt make sense. Same with meeting someone and saying, nice to meet you. “Well, I’m actually a serial killer and like to diddle little kids, and its nice to meet you too!”

[@elizabethhamm5320]

@Redspeciality I don’t base my comments on what other people are tired of hearing. People of faith have a right to express themselves. I suggest you toughen up or stay off the message boards

[@Big_Tex]

Teacher of the Year, ladies & gentlemen.

[@justpeachy697]

Not surprised, a communal narcissist most likely, it served her ego.

[@benwright6330]

...the school should've immediately stepped in and gotten the kid taken away from her when she showed up with untreated burns; they realized her attitude about it and did nothing, ..this could've been Prevented.

[@Stephanie56372]

I’m going to be real, I just don’t understand why people leave children or animals in the car but are the same ones to scramble for their phone or smart device, or anything else when they don’t have it.

[@vsanchez7158]

It’s awful.

[@jenna2431]

Ikr. If you're that busy, then you're too busy.

[@daynasafranek7807]

Very true. It’s incredibly sad as well that a meth pipe was cared more about than this poor little girl. I can’t imagine cooking to death in a car like that and be completely helpless to get out. There’s a special place for these people that’s away from society, and it’s exactly where they belong.

[@evonne315]

To get the kid out of the way, our of thier space. Literally.

[@HeatherHolt]

Or cigarettes

[@andrewcutler1380]

“The couple had great chemistry… for example they used meth together” is one of the all time great Grande-isms 😂

[@AlaFrigginBama]

I know! I should not have laughed at that…but I did. Rip Christina.

[@amylynngriffith]

I have a 45 year old sister that has cerebral palsy and her severity is about the same as Christina's. What they did to this little girl made me so angry and just sick. I didn't hear the part where she was blistered until now. Personally, I would have begged the court to give me death or life in prison because most people who are caregivers couldn't live with the thought of causing a horrific death like this. I wouldn't even think of making decisions like these two but I was more angry that mom had the nerve to whine about her sentencing. She's trash in my eyes.

[@amylynngriffith]

And the diet they said she was on said a lot about what kind of care the little girl received. You can also see by the pictures how she declined in her weight. Something that bothered me was how she hardly smiled and her sister said it was hard to get her to smile. People with cerebral palsy usually smile constantly and are truly the happiest people you'd ever meet. That told me that something has been bad for her for a long time.

[@grumpyoldlady_rants]

Those people should be put in a hot car and left for several hours so they can experience what this poor girl went through.

[@sunshinefalls1086]

This case really upset me I'm a Mum of children with disabilities. I cried when they said Christina has blisters on her body & her internal temperature was 109.9 because that's the limit of the thermometer. What an awful way to die. I can't understand Rita not one bit. As a Mum I'm very attentive to my children & protective of them. I'm a teacher too. Rita belongs in jail, it is more than negligence. Her adult daughter wasn't aware of Rita's drug use. She shouldn't have been a teacher either. Christina would have been alive if Children's Services followed up on the abuse/negligence reports. Christina deserved better

[@SacrificingNothing]

My 13 year old is autistic and medically fragile. Although he is verbal and mobile, he still depends on me for so much hands on caretaking like feeding, diaper changing, dressing, refilling his sippy cup, etc. Yes it is a lot of work and yes it gets very exhausting sometimes especially because unlike when you have a neurotypical toddler who requires that level of care, with a disabled child there is no “this will be over in 2 more years” or “he will be able to do all this on his own soon enough.” Burn out is real. However no matter how tired or grumpy I may be I cannot imagine neglecting my sweet boy. He is my light and so pure and innocent. He needs me but I also need him just as much, in a different way. Society and courts need to stop taking pity on these terrible parents who kill their disabled kids on purpose or via neglect. A disabled child is no less a precious child than any other. I am sick of seeing Dr Phil and the like interviewing these “mothers” who have killed their disabled kids and sympathizing with them. It’s disgusting and sends a clear message to disabled people that we don’t value their lives as much. Very sad case.

[@Bijoux4you]

You’re incredible tbh!!! As a 29 year old woman who’s on the fence about having kids this comment honestly makes me never wanna have kids because I don’t want the chance to have a disabled kid and be forced to care for them forever. I could never do what you do. My husband has a habit of scooping me away to neighboring countries in Europe, we’d get a private villa, sip wine and enjoy your lives. Having a disabled kid would absolutely suck and instead of going to fun vacations, trying out different foods and discovering the world, I’d be chained to some immobile husk forever, noooo thank you 😭

[@crypton_8l87]

That doctor is a weirdo.

[@jez5855]

Thank you for sharing your insight as a parent of a disabled child. Tbh, I was trying to sympathize to Rita a little bit as I was keeping in mind the hardship that comes with taking care of a child like Christina. But youre absolutely right, these children are precious angels regardless of their physical condition. Theres really no excuse to the negligence that Rita showed. God bless you.

[@Robin-xt7yo]

This trial was presided over by the same excellent judge who presided over the Alex Murdaugh trial, Judge Clifton Newman.

[@gretchenkiley6615]

I wondered if it was Judge Newman!

[@andreapoulieva6717]

UNBELIEVABLE. My heart just breaks for Christina, that poor baby didn't stand a chance.

[@RunningInLondon]

The couple had great chemistry. They used methamphetamine together.😂😂 I'm a scientist in a forensic toxicology lab. Thanks, Dr. Grande, for all your work. Love from Canada

[@rejaneoliveira5019]

What a tragedy. This was a horrible death, which could easily be prevented. Poor child😢 Thank you for sharing your thoughts with us, Dr. Grande.❤

[@itsjustnopinionok]

Two grown ups and not one of them gave a damn really. That girl would have not been left in that car if even one of them really cared about her well-being

[@Amanda-el9dx]

The older daughters testimony was sooo weird during the trial. She talked about how they’d use Christina to get free stuff and how her hair was always a mess. She made it seem like the mom was super mom too.

[@unpleasanthill]

Brainwashed. Hopefully she gets help.

[@makeshift_battlefield_music]

I'm thankful for your introduction because it gives me enough time to put my headphones on and I can just recite it to myself from memory and I don't miss anything

[@GoGreen1977]

Meth, a gun, cigarettes, arguments, sex, and a child left in a hot car for hours. What a life!

[@kingcosworth2643]

I've had to temporarily step in and out of that world on occasion and your imagination is simply not equipped to comprehend how they live and the children growing up in it.

[@nbaoldgirl]

That’s their culture!

[@Disgraced_Primus]

​@@nbaoldgirldrug addicts have culture? Lmao

[@nbaoldgirl]

@@Disgraced_Primus I’ll let you play obtuse rather than offend you or anyone by elaborating 😉

[@Disgraced_Primus]

@@nbaoldgirl 🤓 okay know it all

[@damienluxford4480]

We had a case like this here in Brisbane a couple of years ago. A woman called Kerri-Ann Conley arrived home in the wee hours and left her two kids locked in a car while she binged alone on meth. It was a warm night, followed by a hot day. The kids died in the car. Surveillance showed her, the following afternoon, frantically disposing of drug paraphernalia, prior to calling for help

[@LovelyGrits13]

That poor child. May her sweet soul rest in peace. Im shocked that authorities didnt intervene. I'm also curious why her mother has custody. She clearly didn't want to be bothered and I can't imagine that she was the better parent. Something must be done to prevent this from ever happening to another child.

[@HeatherHolt]

Unfortunately there will always be terrible people having children. There’s a serious lack of empathy in this world even to the most innocent of us, children.

[@vsanchez7158]

That poor child. I have a child with a disability. He is so vulnerable and we are very protective of him. She should have put her child before drugs and that stupid boyfriend of hers.

[@user-is7ze1dn5b]

I feel if there is a god, those who have less, or those who need our care to survive must be very near some deity. They are angels in waiting.

[@HeatherHolt]

@@user-is7ze1dn5beh I mean if there was a god why would they make a child disabled in the first place. Childhood cancer, molestation, killing children… just doesn’t make sense something that supposedly made and cares about us would allow to happen if they’re all knowing and all powerful. Just my thoughts, after years of Christian school and learning the Bible forwards and backwards. Lots of inconsistencies lol

[@HeatherHolt]

Glad to hear you’re protective of your sweet baby. It’s so wonderful to hear of a good parent after hearing this story of such a bad one. Terrible one not even bad just straight awful.

[@andrewoolbright554]

👍🏾👍🏾👍🏾👍🏾

[@sweettea527]

When Dr. Grande said "The couple had great chemistry"......I knew he was throwing shade 😂

[@Automedon2]

He meant to say they shared great chemicals.

[@_rockseeker]

Absolutely breaks my heart. This poor sweet girl never had a fighting chance. To think this woman ever worked around children. 😢

[@Vixen522]

Hey, Dr. Todd! Great work on covering this case. One suggestion: could you please flash a pic of the victim at the end of your vids while discussing your thoughts on the case? For example, in this one, i had to rewind to remember what she looked like. Just a thought. Always "enjoy" your work.

[@eb0526]

I don’t care if this woman was twice teacher of the year, she is pure evil 👿. Who treats other children better than you treat your own. The way this baby died is truly heartbreaking 💔. May this woman rot behind bars 💯

[@augustek5382]

She didn't just die; she was killed by her mother while the mother kept checking if she was dead already or not. Very sad story.

[@morticiaheisenberg9679]

Exactly!! I had a teacher that was nominated for "teacher of the year". She wasn't as evil as this one, as far as I know, she hadn't killed anyone. But she was having sex with one of the students and let that bully run the class. She also didn't teach anything. The news was interviewing some students about her and didn't like what I had to say😏 😂😂😂. So don't ever believe that teacher of the year BS.

[@CharMinsky]

In the past three years here in California, the teachers arrested for abuse and violence include most are female and teachers of the year! Makes you ill.

[@dreamcore]

think about that when considering sending children to a u.s. public school

[@jrb4347]

This is a horror. I don’t know how she didn’t get life in prison and I hope they kick the living crap out of her in there everyday. PS I don’t see how this wasn’t done intentionally unless meth makes you blind - there are windows and you can see a child stuck in there probably crying, eventually passed over the course of 5 hours. No where was there ever panic. This was intentional. They just thought they could get away with it as an accident but forgot they were being recorded

[@tiggerpup_nz]

I just hope that the child fell asleep quite quickly (if this was their go-to option of putting kid in car, the kid was relaxed and saw this as “going to bed” or something) hopefully she died in her sleep and never experienced the discomfort.

[@jooleebilly]

Meth does make you basically blind. Note how they couldn't get in with the key fob, and it didn't occur to them to use a key? This is assuming they weren't just lying about it. But I was around a lot of tweekers when I was young, and I believe they could have forgotten about her. This IN NO WAY absolves them of her murder. Nobody MADE them do meth. That was a choice they made. They chose to put their selfish, fleeting high over everyone and everything else in the world, including that little girl. Sober or high, they are responsible for their actions. The fact that the "mother" whined about how it wasn't murder is pathetic. Rot in hell. But enjoy being a child murderer in a women's prison first. For many, many decades.

[@badabing-g4g]

​@@jooleebillythey sure remember how to steal shit

[@little1942]

“The couple had great chemistry. For example, the couple used meth amphetamines together. I’m dead! 😂 That said, this story makes me sick. I am a former pediatric nurse that cared for children like Christina in their own home. She was a beautiful little girl and deserved so much better than this “mother”. It’s unfortunate that the baby sitter didn’t alert the police or CPS when Rita didn’t come for three days. Even the renter could have called when Rita admitted she often left Christina in the care for hours so she didn’t have to care for her. I’m not saying it’s their fault, but they might have prevented this horrible murder of a child if they had. Unfortunately, hindsight is always 2020. Rest in peace in the arms of heaven beautiful girl. 😢

[@p1nkfreud]

Came to comments looking if anyone had quoted that part yet haha

[@SweetUniverse]

"I'm dead! 😂" 🤣🤣🤣

[@alanmcbride6658]

Killed me too.

[@WillaHerrera]

My heart hurts for the pain Christina went through but she will never have to hurt anymore.

[@StAlphonsusHasAPosse]

Yes, she is in God's hands now

[@dissidentfairy4264]

They tortured that poor child to death. Poor Christina, I can't imagine what she must have endured before she finally succumbed. They are guilty and then some! 🧚‍♀

[@jeanholmes7976]

Poor dear Christina….may she rest in peace❤❤ I cannot believe the mother was a ‘teacher of the year’. Thank you Dr. Grande🌵💕from Jean.

[@matthewneufer1758]

This is so heart wrenching

[@KoolT]

Meth addicts are the scariest people I ever met. Dated a guy with two meth addict kids. Terrifying 😢

[@reachingcoldmountainbeforeyou]

100%. I think demons enter them. Some of the WORST crimes against children are committed by people high on meth.

[@deborahsunflower939]

She was more concerned about getting her cigarettes out of the car. I love that his own surveillance was used as evidence against both of them.

[@loiskondo8349]

A parent needs to do more than just love their child, you need to give them the care they need! Being a parent is about your responsibility toward that child. Horrible couple! Thank you Dr. Grande for this sad tale, hopefully someone learns from this, her mother is to late!

[@esteemedmortal5917]

Or, be realistic if you are able/willing to give them the card they need. Sounds like she didn’t give a damn and I don’t know why you wouldn’t give that child up for adoption. Guess she couldn’t even muster the empathy to do that.

[@HeatherHolt]

Children are helpless, and need and expect our care, shelter, food, and most importantly, our love.

[@lindsaylyons5450]

I've known all parties involved since I was 15. I moved to Walterboro in 1999 when i was 13. I have babysat Chrisina, and her sister Ashley is the mother of my niece. This is so awful. My husband has known Larry pretty much most of his life. This is so sad. There is so much more that isn't advertised. My daughter was even upset about Christina's passing.

[@davidbrienlantry8760]

5:18 into this video and I cannot watch anymore. I know how it ends and it hurts my heart to the core.

[@abh7947]

Whenever I unlock my car and sit in it on a hot day, I always think about children like Christina and their sufferings. How helpless they were. I can't spend more than 10 seconds in a hot car with windows up. I can't even imagine the pain these children went through due to an irresponsible adult. I always pray for their souls to have peace.

[@ladymuck2151]

Air conditioning in a car only works effectively if the car is moving.

[@TheBerlinEdit]

When I hear Dr grande say "and that's pretty much it for exculpatory factors", I know the defendants are done for!!

[@timmi59]

So heartbreaking. I feel profoundly sad about this one, Dr G.

[@rocroc]

Unconscionable. I'm familiar with care of the disabled as Christina is here. It is a very intense process. Every minute of every day. No relief. Rest In Peace.

[@I_Love_Rainbows510]

Yeah, that's awful. It's totally different from the parent who forgets that their kid is in a hot car and then freaks out, as any concerned parent would, while running to the car to save the kid. This is all levels of unthinkable selfishness.

[@idahardy4052]

But that’s murder, too. If parents put their phones on the baby car seats, they wouldn’t forget their babies.

[@I_Love_Rainbows510]

@@idahardy4052 You make a disturbingly good point about cell phones! Yikes!

[@derek04151]

I love your deadpan one-liners. You make me spontaneously spit out my coffee. Very intelligent and accurate commentaries, great humor. 😁👌

[@JetScreamer_YT]

I just can't. There are people the world over that would do anything to be a parent. And then you got this situation. Rest in peace Christina. You are loved.

[@anad05]

I am very very happy in the heavy sentence of this case, as it should be!!!

[@carriemummy]

That poor girl. She suffered and died when the person who should have loved her most, was right there. Rita obviously didn't care about Christina, she would have been better off being put into care.

[@DEPORTER_SUPPORTER]

I love that pattern on your shirt again Dr Grande.

[@grimcity]

I'm equal parts full of rage and sick to my stomach. That poor baby.

[@jf13579]

What a horrific situation. RIP to that poor girl.

[@MarceloVolcato]

They deserve their sentences. Their actions are inexcusable.

[@Laura-tp8wz]

Karma. 🔮

[@johncmitchell4941]

My neighbor of 23 years had a Son much like Christina. He passed a few years ago at 26 going on 2. Kenny was our dear, sweet boy and by his smiles and grunts he knew he was surrounded by love all over our close knit neighborhood. IMO Christina deserved as much, as any kid does.

[@jnieswartz4878]

This poor girl. Heartbreaking what this child had to endure

[@RadicalRegice]

2:09 amazing delivery on this line

[@iyalove9383]

You stay on it Dr. Grande. Im here for it. This is a sad one.

[@MsKK909]

LOL!! “They had great chemistry…”. There are always these hilarious little gems in the Dr.’s videos. Thx, Dr. G!

[@barthandelus8340]

That poor, poor girl. Man, that must have been brutal for her, I can't even imagine. Sickening. 37 years locked up don't come close.

[@cassandrawatson8167]

Dr. Todd's dry humor actually cracks me up.

[@Chichilovee]

That poor innocent child. She had to have suffered so badly. I'm so sorry you poor child.

[@snowmiaow]

You are an excellent storyteller

[@aldinaatic9360]

Always up to date with trending topics and cases Thank you for the analysis dr.Grande

[@AdrienneCasteleijn]

Taking drugs when you have children it's so disgusting. That poor child. RIP so sorry for her suffering.

[@culturalobserver8721]

RIP sweet Christina. You deserved a much better mother! 😢

[@Mang-ej5ul]

There’s always previous multiple complaints to social services in these cases. And in so many they fail these kids.

[@s.c.2424]

Oh, real class act woman and man. She couldn't communicate or scream for any help. I can't imagine being high out of my mind while my kids temperature rises and rises and slowly die. Having a child with a disability is hard. I don't think anyone who hasn't experienced being the caretaker understands the difficulty of it all. And yet, this girl could have been given to family. Someone she trusted, maybe. Dropped her off to the authorities.

[@manewland1]

"Teacher of the Year", eh? :/ Thanks, as always, Dr. Grande, for another video to watch with my morning coffee.

[@susanmann5286]

I used to be a school social worker. Can't believe she pulled this child from school and no-one followed up!

[@Ken-fh4jc]

I mean she was a teacher.

[@ginaharden2111]

The burns across her face and neck etc should have been reported to protective services to insure she receives proper medical care for them.

[@Laura-tp8wz]

That is what is happening with all this covid fear-mongering. I feel like so many children/dependent adults/disabled are suffering because of these “lockdowns”. Just my opinion based on research I have done. Blessings

[@ashaqhussain6902]

@@Laura-tp8wz They still have Covid lockdowns in America???

[@carol_arias]

I love you, Dr. Grande!

[@bexyrexy]

‘Why didn’t they just break a window?’ is the question that keeps reoccurring to me 😔

[@irairod5160]

Because they PUT her in the car TO die! Why else would they get her in and not get in the car with her to go anywhere? When the mother went to "check" on her, she was checking to see if she was already unalive. And when she thought the child had expired, the two of them hug, probably out of relief. Then they pretend to go for keys, and wait 2 more hours to call the police, just so they can say that they had forgotten the child was in there. They thought it would be deemed an accident.

[@froglegs1200]

Totally agree

[@MelEveritt]

Thanks for all the great videos Doc. 😊

[@margaretlumley1648]

"The couple had great chemistry. For example, they used methamphetamine together" 😂😂😂 I so love your humour, Dr Grande ❤❤❤❤

[@amandametcalf8749]

I enjoy your straight forward take on troubling human behavior

[@enngee2339]

Poor baby. Rest in peace little one. This episode is the only one I've heard about this case. The surveillance camera is so clear, it's ridiculous. I believe her death was intentional. Both adults had ample opportunity to help Christina

[@kingcosworth2643]

I don't think it was intentional, they were both to stupid to understand what the potential outcome of their actions could be, I'm putting it down to shear ignorance and incompetence.

[@user-sf9gs2pg1b]

I was in a hot car once. Didn't want to be around people, wanted to eat lunch alone. It was horrible. I never sweat that much in my whole life. It was like I was in the rain with the amount of dripping. And I decided to get out because I couldn't watch the video I was watching because water just kept pooling into my glasses and over my face, was super hard to concentrate. I was also of course burning hot. It was a long time ago, so that's about all I remember. Just extreme discomfort, heat, and lots of sweat. It was like a sauna. After that, I will never underestimate the power of a hot car again. I think it should be a requirement for people who do any hot car related crimes to at least feel what it's like - not to the point of death, but just to know how horrible of an experience it is. Seriously, it's something else.

[@mariawhite7337]

This was murder. There is no way that this wasn't murder.

[@StAlphonsusHasAPosse]

So true

[@theangrylizard1990]

2:10 “the couple had great chemistry….” I died 😅

[@christi009]

I watched the trial. It was hard to watch. I was surprised to see the boyfriend had cleaned his life up and moved away to start over away from the drugs. He seemed to be at least somewhat remorseful. I can't say that about the mother but she didn't testify. She did speak before the sentencing but still it wasn't very convincing. How she tried to say she never used meth 🙄. I can't see how anyone thinks leaving a child in a car for over 5 hours is okay, even if the air conditioner was on! It's ridiculously hot here in SC in August. Drugs or no drugs there's no excuse for it. Hard to believe this woman was ever the teacher of the year!

[@babajayne]

What was supposedly the reason they put her in the car in the first place? Were they going somewhere?

[@irairod5160]

@@babajayne That's what makes me think they did it on purpose. They put her in the car...and don't get in the car themselves? Don't go anywhere? Go back in the house? Leave her in the car for 5 hours? Don't do anything until they realize the can't unlock the car?

[@christi009]

@@babajayne Rita (mom) and Larry (the boyfriend) were arguing and he told Rita to leave. They put her in the car and kept arguing, then went back in the house to "make up". Then fumbled around in and out of the house for the rest of the afternoon. The mom had developed a habit of putting Cristina in the car and leaving her in it. A lady testified that she was watching Cristina and needed to go to work. Rita told her to just take Cristina with her and leave her in the car while she worked. The lady didn't do it. I think it had become Rita's way to take Cristina along with her but not have to actually pay attention to her and take care of her.

[@babajayne]

@@christi009 Thank you! Wow.

[@daniellassander]

That dry humor delivered in a deadpan way always gets me man!

[@michellewoods116]

Truly a very sad story. I can't imagine how much this child suffered in that car with heat index of approximately 130 degrees inside. The mom seemed to love her drugs and boyfriend more than her disabled daughter. Who in their right mind would put their disabled child in a car and not stay with him or her? I cried watching video on KZbin, as that poor child was neglected and had to suffer due to her mother's drug priorities.

[@tom-vx1lp]

great chemistry. i gotta say you have a fabulous sense of humour dr grande

[@lornadoon845]

If you can no longer care for your child due to addiction please give them to someone who can.

[@victrola2007]

That poor child never had a chance 💔 No matter how famous and analyzed any case, I look for it on Dr. Grande's analysis.