Midland Father Charged With Murder After 2-Year-Old Daughter Found Dead Inside Hot Vehicle

MIDLAND, Texas. A 25-year-old Midland man has been charged with capital murder after his 2-year-old daughter was found unresponsive inside a parked vehicle Sunday evening, according to the Midland Police Department.

Officers were dispatched at approximately 7:56 p.m. on July 26 to the 100 block of East Pecan Avenue following a report of an unresponsive child locked inside a vehicle.

When officers arrived, they contacted 25-year-old Lorenzo Elias Rodriguez and several of his family members, who described the events leading up to the discovery.

According to police, family members went to the residence to check on Rodriguez and his daughter after learning he had consumed alcoholic beverages the previous night.

After repeatedly knocking on the front door without receiving a response, relatives removed a window air conditioning unit and entered the home through the opening to check on their welfare.

Police said the family found Rodriguez asleep inside the residence and woke him at approximately 8 p.m. Investigators believe he had been asleep since about 11 a.m.

Unable to locate the child inside the home, Rodriguez’s brother and sister-in-law searched outside and found the 2-year-old inside a black Kia passenger car that was not running.

The family broke one of the vehicle’s windows to reach the child and removed her from the car before she was transported to Midland Memorial Hospital.

Despite lifesaving efforts, the child was pronounced dead at the hospital.

Following an investigation into the child’s death, Midland police arrested Rodriguez and charged him with capital murder.

Authorities have not released additional details regarding how long the child was inside the vehicle.

The investigation remains ongoing.