Two Adams County parents have been sentenced to 40 years in prison after pleading guilty to Neglect of a Dependent Resulting in Death following the death of their 2-year-old daughter in December 2024.
Jace Hirschy, 24, and Sintia Perez, 22, each received a 40-year sentence in Adams Circuit Court, with 10 years suspended and 30 years to be served in the Indiana Department of Correction, followed by two years of probation.
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The charges stem from a December 4 incident, when first responders found the toddler, Zaelynn, dead inside a crib placed in a closet with the door nearly closed and a space heater running. Investigators determined she died from hyperthermia after being exposed to temperatures exceeding 100°F overnight.
Perez and Hirschy were both present at the time. Two other children in the home were immediately removed by the Indiana Department of Child Services.
Hirschy was sentenced on June 27, and Perez on July 1.
The case has sparked community outrage and renewed calls for vigilance in child safety and welfare enforcement.
