An Indiana woman has been charged after allegedly watching her boyfriend reportedly strangle his 5-year-old daughter to death with a noose over FaceTime, believing at the time that they were just playing, according to police.
Police responded to a home in Lebanon, Indiana, on May 19 and found 5-year-old Zara Arnold unresponsive. Her father, 41-year-old Zachary Arnold, was initially charged with neglect but is now facing murder charges following an autopsy that revealed Zara died from asphyxiation caused by a ligature.
While on FaceTime with his girlfriend, Andrea Figueroa-Lopez, Arnold allegedly dragged the young girl with a noose, and at one point hung her over his back, according to IndyStar. Figueroa-Lopez allegedly told investigators that she initially thought the pair were "just playing."
Although Figueroa-Lopez told investigators she told him to step, police said she did not call 911 or intervene in any way. Investigators later recovered video evidence on Figueroa-Lopez's phone, who reportedly took screenshots during the incident.
Figueroa-Lopez was arrested and charged with failure to report child abuse and neglect resulting in death. Arnold, who had initially claimed Zara had a seizure, now faces a formal murder charge. He remains in custody without bond, and both are expected to appear in court later this summer.
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