If someone is unable to care for a child, it’s important to seek help from a trusted family member or contact child protective services. Every child deserves a safe and loving home.
Sadly, little Zaelynn never got that chance. Her story is one that should not be forgotten.
A Shocking Discovery
A tragic case in Berne, Indiana, shook the community in November 2024. On a cold day, police responded to a call for a death investigation at an apartment complex. What they found left even experienced officers disturbed.
Upon arrival, authorities met a young couple, Sintia Perez, 21, and Jace Hirschy, 23, with their two small children. When asked about their third child, Zaelynn, their response was chilling.
A Closet Turned Deadly
Reports revealed that the family lived in poor conditions. Zaelynn, only two years old, was forced to sleep in a closet with a space heater. This sleeping arrangement turned deadly.
An autopsy showed that Zaelynn died from overheating. Her body temperature had risen to 109.4 degrees by the time officers arrived. Court records described how an officer immediately felt a drastic rise in temperature when stepping into the closet.
Zaelynn was found lying on a soiled mattress in her crib, wearing an unchanged diaper. The mother told police she had put her to bed around 7 p.m. the night before and turned the heater up almost to its highest setting. She didn’t wake up until nearly 12:30 p.m. the next day, but neither she nor Hirschy checked on their daughter until hours later.
By the time they did, it was too late.
A Life Remembered
Zaelynn was described as a joyful child. Her obituary stated, “She was full of love and life, always smiling with bright blue eyes. She will be greatly missed.”
The home was later found to be in extremely unhealthy conditions. The couple’s other children, ages 5 and 3, were removed by child services after being found with lice and living among cockroaches and mold.
Perez and Hirschy were arrested and face multiple charges, including neglect of a dependent resulting in death. Their trial is scheduled for March 2025.