JACKSONVILLE, Ark. – Jacksonville police have charged a couple with an additional capital murder count following the death of their 3-year-old daughter, which marks the second child fatality linked to allegations of child abuse and neglect.
Deja and Justin Rollins now face a second capital murder charge after their 3-year-old succumbed to her injuries last Friday. The couple was previously charged with capital murder after their 2-year-old daughter died in July.
On July 7, authorities responded to reports of child abuse and neglect concerning the 3-year-old, who was taken to Arkansas Children’s Hospital for urgent medical care. Little Rock police noted that she exhibited signs of heat exhaustion. Following this incident, the Rollins were arrested.
During the investigation, Jacksonville police discovered that the couple had four other children, aged 2 to 10, and they did not cooperate with authorities regarding the children’s whereabouts. The officers later located the children left unattended in a car parked at the hospital.
The 2-year-old who died on July 8 was one of the children found in the vehicle.
In addition to the capital murder charges, the Rollins face multiple other charges, including five counts of first-degree domestic battery, five counts of neglect of a vulnerable person, five counts of endangering the welfare of a minor, one count of animal cruelty, and one count of obstructing government operations.
Court records indicate that Deja Rollins has pleaded not guilty to the new capital murder charge, while Justin Rollins’ plea status remains unlisted. Both individuals had previously pleaded not guilty to the original murder charges and are currently being held in the Pulaski County Regional Detention Facility without bond.
