Father gets life in prison after admitting to years of abuse and murder of 12-year-old daughter

West Caln Township, PA — A Chester County man has been sentenced to life in prison without parole plus up to 60 additional years after admitting in court that he systematically abused and ultimately murdered his 12-year-old daughter, Malinda Hoagland.

On January 15, 2026, Rendell Hoagland, 54, of West Caln Township, pleaded guilty to first-degree murder, kidnapping, conspiracy, and other related charges in connection to the 2024 death of his daughter. The plea deal, accepted by the Honorable Judge Ann Marie Wheatcraft, followed consultations with the victim’s family.

During the two-hour hearing, Hoagland admitted to subjecting Malinda to repeated abuse over a period of years. Prosecutors said the abuse culminated in her death. Family members gave impact statements in court, and first responders who were at the scene of the fatal incident also shared the emotional toll of the case.

Chester County District Attorney Christopher de Barrena-Sarobe called the plea a major step in securing justice for Malinda but emphasized that the case is not yet over.

The trial of Malinda’s stepmother, Cindy Warren, is scheduled to begin June 8, 2026. She faces related charges and remains presumed innocent until proven guilty in court.

Authorities remind the public that if there are concerns about the safety of a child, they should report it immediately by calling 911 or Pennsylvania ChildLine at 1-800-932-0313. Reports can be made anonymously.

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Key Points

Rendell Hoagland, 54, pleaded guilty to murdering his 12-year-old daughter after years of abuse
He was sentenced to life in prison without parole plus 30 to 60 years
Co-defendant Cindy Warren’s trial is scheduled for June 8, 2026

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Chris Quigley is a graduate of Stockton State University and began her career at IN Jersey, the online news and media branch of the Asbury Park Press. She also worked at Monmouth Internet, the Ocean Signal Newspaper, and JTOWN Magazine during her career in both content management and operations.

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