SC - Cristina Pangalangan, 13, special needs, died in hot car, Colleton County, Aug 2019 *Arrests*

[Gardenista]

From live chat:
Cathy Russon
They pulled her out of the car. We cut the feed and went back to court

 

[JerseyGirl]

Disabled Teen Death Trial: Victim's Babysitter Testifies | Watch Court TV

Lindsey Lewis testified that Rita Pangalangan once left for days without leaving any food behind for her daughter with special needs.

www.courttv.com

 

[arielilane]

DAILY TRIAL HIGHLIGHTS

DAY 1 – 8/29/23

• The jury hears opening statements
  • WATCH: Disabled Teen Death Trial Opening Statements
• Lindsay Lewis, who babysat Cristina, testified
  • Was asked to babysit on a Friday night, Rita didn’t return home until Sunday evening
  • Said there was no food in the home and Cristina’s bed had bed bugs
  • WATCH: Disabled Teen Death Trial: Victim’s Babysitter Testifies
• Brittany Honeycutt, a former friend of Rita, testified the defendant told her she left Cristina in the car “all the time” with the windows down
  • WATCH: Former Friend: Pangalangan Suggested Leaving Victim in Car Alone
• The jury watched hours of video footage that appears to show the defendants leaving Cristina in the hot car for hours
  • WATCH: Disabled Teen Death Trial: Jurors See Victim’s Hot Car Death

SC v. King, Pangalangan: Disabled Teen Death Trial

Rita Pangalangan and her boyfriend, Larry King Jr., were each sentenced to more than 30 years in prison for her daughter's murder.

www.courttv.com

Last updated 7:33 AM, August 30, 2023

 

[arielilane]

WATCH LIVE: Hot Car Child Death Murder Trial — SC v. Rita Pangalangan — Day Two​

A South Carolina woman faces trial for allegedly murdering her 13-year-old special needs daughter by locking her in a hot car for nearly five hours in August 2019. Rita Pangalangan claims she accidentally locked her daughter, Cristina, in the vehicle with the keys inside when she went to grab a pack of cigarettes inside the home of her boyfriend, Larry King. Authorities said when first responders arrived to administer aid, Cristina, who was wheelchair-bound and “helpless,” was “beyond help” and died. Pangalangan and King’s story allegedly fell apart when investigators seized security footage from the home that showed the couple locking Cristina in the car and leaving her unattended, returning to check on her several times.

 

[TTF14]

I don't understand why Larry King is being included at all in these proceedings (at this moment) when this isn't even his trial. Why is he/his attorney involved?

 

[arielilane]

BREAKING: Defendant Larry King takes the stand in his own defense.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1696895865732956639

 

[TTF14]

I'm so confused! Is this even his trial?

 

[arielilane]

I feel like we’re all being gaslit right now!

https://twitter.com/x/status/1696902539721994332

 

[bettyboop]

I'm so confused! Is this even his trial?

@TTF14 , I believe they are being tried together for some strange reason. JMO MOO

 

[TTF14]

@TTF14 , I believe they are being tried together for some strange reason. JMO MOO

OK, I thought I read they weren't being tried together and the headline/title on says SC v. Rita Pangalangan (not him).

 

[arielilane]

Day 3: Murder trial continues for mother and boyfriend accused of leaving 13 yr old special needs Cristina Pangalangan in hot car to die in August 2019. Boyfriend Larry King Jr. testifies that the car was running when they placed Cristina in the car. He says the mother told him not to punch out the windows.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1696899790959763710

 

[arielilane]

Now cross exam with Solicitor Duffie Stone, defendant Larry King Jr says that at the time of Cristina's death, he had not slept for days, and he had been using meth with Cristina's mother Rita Pangalangan. He said after placing the child in the car- they went back inside and had sex. Right now King is reviewing the surveillance video on the car with Cristina still inside and parked at his house. Solicitor questions that according to video- did King turn the car off as he removed Cristina's lifeless body? Was it ever even turned on to keep the inside cool for Cristina?

https://twitter.com/x/status/1696907860402135460

 

[arielilane]

I'm so confused! Is this even his trial?

bbm

I concur your confusion. However, its

SC v. King, Pangalangan​

so that clears it up.

According to Court TV:

COLLETON COUNTY, S.C. (Court TV) — A woman once named teacher of the year and her boyfriend are standing trial on charges they killed a 13-year-old girl with special needs.

SC v. King, Pangalangan: Disabled Teen Death Trial

Rita Pangalangan and her boyfriend, Larry King Jr., were each sentenced to more than 30 years in prison for her daughter's murder.

www.courttv.com

 

[arielilane]

Now cross exam with Solicitor Duffie Stone, defendant Larry King Jr says that at the time of Cristina's death, he had not slept for days, and he had been using meth with Cristina's mother Rita Pangalangan. He said after placing the child in the car- they went back inside and had sex. Right now King is reviewing the surveillance video on the car with Cristina still inside and parked at his house. Solicitor questions that according to video- did King turn the car off as he removed Cristina's lifeless body? Was it ever even turned on to keep the inside cool for Cristina?


Defense for Rita Pangalangan calls the locksmith to the stand who Larry King Jr called to try and unlock car after they discover it is locked. Defense also called a retired educator who spoke well to Rita's career in education. Court dismissed at noon until Friday 9am.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1696915470262091833

 

[arielilane]

Another note here- Solicitor Stone points out that Larry King Jr told police after the death- Cristina’s mother Rita would take the drug meth by putting it in her coffee.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1696919748015947828

 

[x_files]

So they often locked Cristina in a car as punishment or as a babysitter?
yikes.

 

[arielilane]

bbm

Day 3: Murder trial continues for mother and boyfriend accused of leaving 13 yr old special needs Cristina Pangalangan in hot car to die in August 2019. Boyfriend Larry King Jr. testifies that the car was running when they placed Cristina in the car. He says the mother told him not to punch out the windows.

Now cross exam with Solicitor Duffie Stone, defendant Larry King Jr says that at the time of Cristina's death, he had not slept for days, and he had been using meth with Cristina's mother Rita Pangalangan. He said after placing the child in the car- they went back inside and had sex. Right now King is reviewing the surveillance video on the car with Cristina still inside and parked at his house. Solicitor questions that according to video- did King turn the car off as he removed Cristina's lifeless body? Was it ever even turned on to keep the inside cool for Cristina?

Defense for Rita Pangalangan calls the locksmith to the stand who Larry King Jr called to try and unlock car after they discover it is locked. Defense also called a retired educator who spoke well to Rita's career in education. Court dismissed at noon until Friday 9am.

Another note here- Solicitor Stone points out that Larry King Jr told police after the death- Cristina’s mother Rita would take the drug meth by putting it in her coffee.

https://twitter.com/AnneTEmerson

 

[x_files]

Now cross exam with Solicitor Duffie Stone, defendant Larry King Jr says that at the time of Cristina's death, he had not slept for days, and he had been using meth with Cristina's mother Rita Pangalangan. He said after placing the child in the car- they went back inside and had sex. Right now King is reviewing the surveillance video on the car with Cristina still inside and parked at his house. Solicitor questions that according to video- did King turn the car off as he removed Cristina's lifeless body? Was it ever even turned on to keep the inside cool for Cristina?

https://twitter.com/x/status/1696907860402135460

The mother was a meth addict, a star teacher, and has legal custody of a special needs child? Does CPS pay attention? YIKES! RED FLAGS!

 

[passionflower]

So they often locked Cristina in a car as punishment or as a babysitter?
yikes.

Punishment? Oh my for what? If Cristina was getting to be to much for mother why not put her in a care place for a rest and get her again or leave her there?

 

[Chimera]

Thanks for the link, @legalmomma !

There are no words I can use here, for the part of the security cam where they are looking into the car, hands cupped around their eyes to block out the reflection of the sun, that was slowly killing Cristina.

Sometimes it seems like the punishment should fit the crime, but at the very least they need life without parole.
SC does have the dp ; which in this case .... well.
But more fitting would be for them to be locked in a small cell and think about their life choices as they slowly dwindle out their remaining days.

Cristina's school described her as smiling and welcoming interaction with others.
What's the hardest to fathom, is that she may not have even understood evil as we do, but she might have thought her mom whom she loved had merely forgotten her all those times in the car ?
Revolting.
Omo.