Texas dad charged with CAPITAL murder after daughter dies in H๏τ car

A Texas father has been charged with capital murder after allegedly leaving his young daughter baking inside a locked car for nearly 10 hours while he slept off a night of drinking. 

Lorenzo Rodriguez, 25, of Midland, was arrested Sunday after relatives discovered his two-year-old daughter, Luciana Madeline Rodriguez, unresponsive inside his locked, non-running black Kia, according to the Midland Police Department. 

She had allegedly been left inside the sweltering vehicle for around nine hours while her father slept off a night of drinking.  

The toddler was pronounced ᴅᴇᴀᴅ shortly after being pulled from the car, which had become an oven in the nearly 100-degree heat, according to weather data. 

After police uncovered evidence during a preliminary investigation, Rodriguez was charged with capital murder – the most serious criminal offense under Texas law. 

The horrifying discovery was made just before 8pm, when Midland police responded to reports of an unresponsive toddler inside a car on the 100 block of East Pecan Avenue. 

Rodriguez’s brother and sister-in-law, who discovered the two-year-old girl and called authorities, gave investigators an initial statement at the scene. 

They said they went to Rodriguez’s home to check on him and Luciana after learning he had spent the previous night drinking and intoxicated. 

Family members discovered his two-year-old Luciana unresponsive inside his locked, non-running black Kia, according to police

She had allegedly been left inside the sweltering vehicle for around nine hours while Rodriguez slept off a night of drinking inside the home

Police said the pair repeatedly knocked on the door with no response before resorting to the west side of the home, where they ‘removed an air-conditioning unit’ and forced their way in. 

Inside, they found Rodriguez asleep and woke him around 8pm – only to learn he had been sleeping for roughly nine hours, since about 11am.

EXCLUSIVE Inside life of Lindsay Clancy’s husband and new wife, as ex faces trial for murder of their children

After searching the home and failing to find Luciana, family members went outside and spotted her inside Rodriguez’s black Kia, which had been left turned off.

The relatives smashed a window to reach the toddler, pulled her from the locked vehicle and called 911 moments later, according to investigators. 

She was rushed to Midland Memorial Hospital, where she was pronounced ᴅᴇᴀᴅ shortly after arrival. 

Police said evidence gathered during the investigation resulted in Rodriguez being arrested and booked into the Midland County Detention Center on a $1.5 million bond. 

On Facebook, Rodriguez had previously shared several posts featuring and mentioning his daughter, including one from April that read: ‘Long as my kid love my I couldn’t care less who don’t.’

Another post read: ‘Been WORKING on MYSELF cuz my KIDS deserve a HEALED PARENT.’ 

Lorenzo Rodriguez, 25, of Midland, Texas, was arrested Sunday and charged with capital murder in connection with the death of his 2-year-old daughter, Luciana Madeline Rodriguez 

The tragic discovery was made just before 8pm, when police responded to reports of an unresponsive toddler inside a car on the 100 block of East Pecan Avenue

Family members ‘removed an air-conditioning unit’ and forced their way inside to Rodriguez’s home, only to learn he had been sleeping for roughly nine hours

‘I gotta win for my kid, that’s all I ever think about,’ said another. 

In August 2025, Rodriguez shared a series of five pH๏τos with Luciana, writing alongside them: ‘Just me and my princess.’

Among the pH๏τos, one appeared to show Rodriguez playing with Luciana in a pool, while others showed him pushing her on a swing. 

Two other images showed Rodriguez holding his daughter, including one where Luciana appeared to smile as she clung to his neck. 

On Sunday, weather data showed temperatures in Midland, Texas, reached as high as 99 degrees.

In those conditions, the inside of a vehicle can soar above 130 degrees within minutes and reach 150 degrees or more, according to the National Weather Service.

The inside of a locked car can quickly become ᴅᴇᴀᴅly for children and pets, with temperatures jumping 20 degrees in just 10 minutes and climbing above 130 degrees Fahrenheit within 30 minutes. 

In Texas, a killing can be classified as capital murder when it involves certain aggravating circumstances, including the death of a child under 10 or a killing committed during another felony such as kidnapping or robbery. 

If convicted, Rodriguez faces one of two possible sentences: the death penalty or life in prison without the possibility of parole

On Facebook, Rodriguez had previously shared several posts featuring and mentioning his daughter

If convicted, Rodriguez faces one of two possible sentences: the death penalty or life in prison without the possibility of parole. 

Police said the investigation remains ongoing.

The Daily Mail has reached out to the Midland Police Department and Luciana’s mother for comment.