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Rita Pangalangan, a former educator, made headlines for a tragic and horrifying incident in August 2019. She was convicted of a heinous crime involving the death of her own 13-year-old daughter, Cristina Pangalangan, who lost her life after being left in a sweltering car for several hours. This shocking incident led to legal repercussions that saw both Rita and her boyfriend, Larry King Jr., being handed substantial prison sentences. Rita received a 57-year sentence, while Larry was sentenced to 52 years. Their convictions encompassed charges of murder, criminal conspiracy, and causing significant harm to a child.

This tragic case serves as a somber reminder of the profound responsibility that parents and caregivers hold for the well-being and safety of their children. It also underscores the severity of the legal consequences that can befall those who fail in this critical duty.

Who is Rita Pangalangan?

Rita Pangalangan was born on June 12, 1970, in South Carolina. She was an educator at the Thunderbolt Career & Tech Center until she resigned after her arrest. She had two daughters, Elizabeth Clyde and Cristina Pangalangan. Cristina was born with cerebral palsy and was non-verbal and wheelchair-bound. Rita Pangalangan was divorced from Cristina’s father, who lived in the Philippines.

What did Rita Pangalangan do?

On August 5, 2019, Rita Pangalangan and Larry King Jr. left Cristina in a locked Volkswagen Jetta outside King’s home in Colleton County, South Carolina. The temperature that day reached 88 degrees Fahrenheit (31 degrees Celsius), but inside the car, it could have been as high as 130 degrees Fahrenheit (54 degrees Celsius).

According to surveillance footage and witness statements, the couple checked on Cristina once after an hour and then left her alone for another three hours. They then drove away in King’s truck for another hour before returning to find Cristina unresponsive. They called 911 but it was too late to save the girl’s life.

The Tragic Death of Cristina Pangalangan

Cristina Pangalangan was a developmentally disabled girl who suffered from cerebral palsy. She was non-verbal and wheelchair-bound and depended on her mother for care. However, on August 5, 2019, Rita Pangalangan and Larry King Jr. left Cristina in a locked Volkswagen Jetta outside King’s home in Colleton County, South Carolina, while they went inside to smoke methamphetamine and have sex.

The temperature outside was in the upper 80s, and inside the car, it could have reached over 130 degrees Fahrenheit. Cristina was left alone in the car for more than five hours, without water, food, or ventilation. She died of heatstroke and dehydration.

Rita Pangalangan claimed that she had gone inside the house to get a pack of cigarettes and that she had accidentally locked the car keys and Cristina inside the car. She said she tried to break the window with a brick but failed. She also said she called 911, but the phone was not working.

However, these claims were contradicted by the evidence presented by the prosecution. They showed surveillance footage from King’s house that captured the couple’s movements on the day of the incident. The video showed that Rita Pangalangan and Larry King Jr. put Cristina in the car at 11:15 a.m., shut the door, and left her there. They returned an hour later to check on her and then went back inside the house. They did not come out again for three hours, and even then they drove away in King’s truck, leaving Cristina behind for another hour.

The prosecution also presented testimonies from witnesses who saw Cristina in the car and tried to help her. One witness said he saw Cristina’s head slumped over and her eyes closed at around 1:30 p.m., and he called 911. Another witness said he saw Rita Pangalangan and Larry King Jr. return to the car at around 4:15 p.m., and he heard Rita scream “She’s dead!” He said he saw King take Cristina out of the car and lay her on the ground.

The first responders who arrived at the scene testified that Cristina was already dead when they got there. They said she had no pulse, no breathing, and no signs of life. They also said she had blisters on her skin, indicating severe burns from the heat.

The medical examiner who performed the autopsy confirmed that Cristina died of hyperthermia or overheating of the body. He said her core body temperature was 107 degrees Fahrenheit when she was pronounced dead. He also said she had signs of chronic neglect, such as malnutrition, dehydration, poor hygiene, and untreated infections.

Why did Rita Pangalangan kill her daughter?

The motive behind the horrific crime is unclear. Prosecutors argued that Rita Pangalangan and Larry King Jr. acted with “extreme indifference to human life” and showed “a reckless disregard for the safety of others”.

They also presented evidence that the couple tested positive for methamphetamine on the day of the incident. Defense attorneys claimed that it was a tragic accident and that Rita Pangalangan loved her daughter and cared for her despite her disability.

Boyfriend & Relationship

• Rita’s boyfriend is Larry King Jr., a 42-year-old man who lives in Colleton County, South Carolina.
• Rita Pangalangan and Larry King Jr. had an on-again-off-again relationship for about two years before Cristina’s death.
• Pangalangan and Larry King Jr. were both addicted to methamphetamine, and they were under the influence of the drug on the day of Cristina’s death. They left Cristina in the car outside King’s home while they went inside to smoke meth and have sex.
• Pangalangan and Larry King Jr. were arrested and charged with murder, criminal conspiracy, and great bodily harm to a child for their role in Cristina’s death. They pleaded not guilty and went to trial in August 2023.

How was Rita Pangalangan caught?

Rita Pangalangan and Larry King Jr. were arrested on August 6, 2019, after investigators reviewed the surveillance footage from King’s home and interviewed witnesses who saw them leaving and returning to the car several times.

They were initially charged with unlawful conduct towards a child, but the charge was upgraded to murder after an autopsy confirmed that Cristina died of heatstroke. They were also charged with criminal conspiracy and great bodily harm to a child.

Wiki | Biodata

What happened to Rita Pangalangan in court?

Rita Pangalangan and Larry King Jr. went on trial on August 29, 2023, in Colleton County Circuit Court. The jury heard testimonies from law enforcement officers, first responders, forensic experts, family members, and former colleagues of Rita Pangalangan.

They also saw photos and videos of the crime scene and the victim’s body. The trial lasted for five days and the jury deliberated for less than two hours before reaching a verdict on September 1, 2023. They found both defendants guilty of all charges.

What is Rita Pangalangan’s sentence?

On September 2, 2023, Circuit Judge Clifton Newman sentenced Rita Pangalangan to 37 years for murder, 20 years for great bodily harm of a child, and five years for criminal conspiracy. The sentences will run concurrently, meaning she will serve a total of 57 years in prison.

She will also get credit for the 39 days she spent in jail before posting bond. Larry King Jr. received a similar sentence of 32 years for murder, 20 years for great bodily harm of a child, and five years for criminal conspiracy, totaling 52 years in prison.

Parents & Siblings

According to the web search results, there is not much information available about Rita Pangalangan’s parents and siblings. However, some sources indicate that she has a sister named Lisa Frasier, who is also an educator and lives in South Carolina. Lisa Frasier has expressed her sorrow and disbelief over Rita Pangalangan’s actions and said that she loved her niece Cristina.

She also said that she had not seen Rita Pangalangan for a long time and that she did not know about her relationship with Larry King Jr. or her drug use. Lisa Frasier has also been supportive of Cristina’s father, who lives in another state and has been estranged from Rita Pangalangan for years. There is no mention of Rita Pangalangan’s parents or other siblings in the web search results.

How did Rita Pangalangan’s family react?

Rita Pangalangan’s family expressed mixed emotions after the sentencing. Her older daughter, Elizabeth Clyde, said she was relieved that justice was served but also saddened by losing both her mother and sister.

She said she forgave her mother but did not understand why she did what she did. She also said she hoped her mother would find peace and redemption in prison. Cristina’s father, who flew from the Philippines to attend the trial, said he was satisfied with the verdict but wished he could have seen his daughter grow up.

Net Worth

Rita Pangalangan’s net worth is unknown. As per dreshare.com, her estimated net worth is around $500K (approx.). She worked as a teacher for several years until she resigned in August 2019. She also received disability benefits for her daughter Cristina. She did not have any significant assets or properties according to court records.

Facts & Trivia

• Rita Pangalangan is a 53-year-old woman who was born on June 12, 1970, in South Carolina.
• Rita Pangalangan was a former teacher who worked at Thunderbolt Career & Tech, a vocational school in Walterboro, South Carolina. 
• She was fired from her job after her arrest in 2019.
• Rita Pangalangan had two daughters: Cristina Pangalangan and Elizabeth Clyde. Cristina was her daughter from a previous relationship, while Elizabeth was her daughter from her ex-husband, David Clyde.
• Pangalangan was the mother of Cristina Pangalangan, a 13-year-old girl who had cerebral palsy and was non-verbal and wheelchair-bound.
• Cristina died of heatstroke on August 5, 2019, after being left in a locked car for more than five hours by Rita and her boyfriend, Larry King Jr.
• Rita and Larry King Jr. were both addicted to methamphetamine, and they were under the influence of the drug on the day of Cristina’s death.
• They left Cristina in the car outside King’s home in Colleton County, South Carolina, while they went inside to smoke meth and have sex.
• Rita and Larry King Jr. were arrested and charged with murder, criminal conspiracy, and great bodily harm to a child for their role in Cristina’s death. They pleaded not guilty and claimed they loved Cristina and did not intend to harm her.
• Pangalangan and Larry King Jr. were convicted of murder on September 1, 2023, after a four-day trial in Colleton County Circuit Court. The jury deliberated for about two hours before reaching the verdict.

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