The death of a 13-year-old girl with severe disabilities is being treated as a homicide, months after her caretaker was charged with abuse and died while in custody.
According to Fox News, Melony Granados, who had epilepsy and the developmental level of a toddler, died in January after police discovered her in unsanitary conditions inside a Tempe, Arizona, home where she had allegedly been confined in a makeshift cage.
Granados was in the care of her grandmother, Virginia Lujan, at the time of her death. According to officials, Lujan was responsible for her granddaughter’s daily needs due to Granados' cognitive impairments and rare medical condition. Granados was one of four children whose custody had been transferred to Lujan by their mother, Jami Hodges.
On January 20, Lujan contacted emergency services, stating that Granados was unresponsive. When officers arrived at the home, they found the teenager lying on the living room floor. The child displayed significant bruising, prompting police to question the circumstances of her reported fall.
Home Investigation Revealed Troubling Circumstances
The next day, Granados died in the hospital. Authorities launched an investigation into her injuries and the state of the home. During the inspection, they documented conditions they described as extremely unclean, with trash and insects throughout the residence. Police also discovered a modified bunk bed inside the house. This sleeping arrangement had been converted into an enclosure using baby gates and zip ties, with signs that it had been used to confine the child. Investigators located human waste within the structure, indicating Granados may have spent long periods inside it without access to a bathroom.
According to the Maricopa County Attorney's Office, this modified enclosure was used to isolate the child for extended durations. The statement described the home as exhibiting “grossly unsanitary” environmental conditions that raised major concerns about the child’s living situation.
Charges Filed Against Caretaker Before Her Death
In February 2025, a grand jury indicted Lujan, 55, on multiple charges, including child abuse, tampering with evidence, and contributing to a child’s dependency. At the time, investigators continued to examine the circumstances of Granados' death while awaiting the results of the official autopsy.
Throughout the investigation, Lujan maintained that her granddaughter’s injuries stemmed from an accidental fall down the stairs. This claim was noted in reports, but did not align with the extensive injuries or the documented condition of the home. Authorities believed further charges could be warranted based on additional evidence or medical conclusions. However, before prosecutors were able to proceed, Lujan died of natural causes in the Maricopa County Jail in September 2025.
The Medical Report Classifies Death as Homicide
In a recent finding, the Maricopa County Medical Examiner’s Office officially ruled Granados’ cause of death as a homicide. The classification confirmed that the injury patterns and investigation findings pointed to non-accidental causes.
Tempe police had been waiting for this conclusion to determine whether to pursue more serious charges against Lujan. With her death in custody, those charges will no longer be filed, but the case remains a significant example of systemic failures in caregiving and child welfare oversight. The confirmation of homicide has brought new urgency to discussions about how disabled and dependent children are placed and monitored in family care settings. Granados’ level of vulnerability made her especially reliant on others, and officials suggested that safeguards did not prevent her mistreatment.
The Case Raises Broader Systemic Questions
Granados’ mother, who had previously transferred custody of several of her children to Lujan, has not been publicly charged with wrongdoing. It remains unclear what support or supervision had been in place to assess Lujan’s ability to provide long-term care. The details of Granados’ confinement, coupled with the home’s poor sanitary state, have led many to question how such conditions escaped detection before her death. Advocates for children with disabilities argue that regular check-ins and welfare assessments are critical, especially when children have health conditions requiring specialized care.
As the investigation concludes, attention now turns to broader child protection protocols. Authorities and advocates are evaluating how similar cases might be prevented in the future, particularly for children facing medical and cognitive challenges that limit their ability to speak for themselves.
Community Response and Next Steps
Local agencies have not said whether any other individuals will face legal scrutiny in connection with the case. However, the investigation into potential oversight lapses is ongoing, and officials say lessons learned may inform future protocols. The Maricopa County Attorney’s Office did not issue a new statement following the medical ruling, but previously emphasized the seriousness of the initial findings. The converted bunk bed, in particular, highlighted a level of confinement that officials described as deeply troubling and inappropriate for any child, especially one with medical needs.
Though the legal process ended with Lujan’s death in custody, the ruling of homicide underscores the responsibility of caregivers and the systems meant to protect vulnerable children. The circumstances of Granados’ life and death continue to spark examination into the adequacy of protections for at-risk minors in home care.
