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South Carolina Couple Sentenced for Murder in Hot-Car Death of Disabled 13-Year-Old

A jury returned guilty verdicts after CCTV evidence, a five-hour timeline, plus forensic heat estimates above 46C.

Overview

  • Rita Pangalangan received 37 years for murder plus 20 years for grievous bodily harm, with the terms running concurrently.
  • Larry King Jr. was sentenced to 32 years for murder plus 20 years for grievous bodily harm, with concurrent terms.
  • Court records show Cristina Pangalangan was left locked in the family car for more than five hours and 42 minutes as interior temperatures topped 46C (115F).
  • CCTV presented at trial showed the pair walking around the property, embracing, searching for a spare key, and attempting to force open the vehicle before finding the girl unresponsive.
  • Defense lawyers argued the death was accidental, citing a belief the air conditioning was operating and methamphetamine impairment, with counsel asserting, “This case is a lot of things, but it’s not murder.”