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Who is Cristina Pangalangan? Father, Siblings, Age, Biography, Latest News, Mother & More

Cristina Pangalangan was a 13-year-old girl from Colleton County, South Carolina, who had special needs and required constant care. She was non-verbal and wheelchair-bound, and depended on her mother, Rita Pangalangan, for everything. However, on August 5, 2019, Rita Pangalangan and her boyfriend, Larry King Jr., left Cristina in a parked car for nearly six hours on a hot summer day, causing her to die from heatstroke. The couple was convicted of murder, criminal conspiracy, and great bodily harm of a child in September 2023, and sentenced to 35 years in prison each.

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A Loving Daughter and Sister

Cristina Pangalangan was born on April 18, 2006, to Rita Pangalangan and her ex-husband, Robert Clyde. She had two older sisters, Elizabeth and Ashley.

Cristina was diagnosed with cerebral palsy at birth, which affected her brain development and motor skills. She also had epilepsy and scoliosis and needed medication and therapy to manage her conditions. Despite her challenges, Cristina was described by her family and friends as a loving, happy, and beautiful girl who enjoyed music, dancing and spending time with her sisters.

NameAgeRelation
Cristina Pangalangan13Victim
Rita Pangalangan49Mother (Facebook Profile)
Larry King Jr.42Mother’s boyfriend
Robert Clyde50Father
Elizabeth Clyde22Sister (Facebook Account)
Ashley Clyde20Sister (Click Here)

A Neglectful Mother and Teacher

Rita Pangalangan was a teacher at Colleton County Middle School for over 20 years, where she taught early childhood education. She was named teacher of the year in 2014, and was involved in several community organizations that supported children with disabilities. However, behind the scenes, Rita Pangalangan was neglecting and abusing her own daughter, Cristina.

According to prosecutors, she had five complaints filed against her by the South Carolina Department of Social Services (DSS) between 2016 and 2019, for failing to provide adequate care, supervision, and medical attention to Cristina Pangalangan. The most recent complaint occurred in March 2019, when Rita Pangalangan brought Cristina to school with a severe burn on her face, neck, and chest that she did not treat properly.

The burn was draining on Cristina Pangalangan’s shirt and emitting an odor, indicating an infection. Rita Pangalangan claimed that Cristina had accidentally spilled hot water on herself while she was sleeping. DSS investigated the case but did not remove Cristina from Rita Pangalangan’s custody.

A Fatal Mistake or a Deliberate Act?

On August 5, 2019, Rita Pangalangan and Larry King Jr., who had been dating for about a year, left Cristina in Rita Pangalangan’s 2012 Volkswagen Jetta outside King’s home in Colleton County.

The temperature that day reached 91 degrees Fahrenheit (33 degrees Celsius), but inside the car, it was much hotter. Cristina Pangalangan was trapped in the car for five hours and 41 minutes before Rita Pangalangan and King checked on her. She was unresponsive and covered in sweat. They called 911 and attempted CPR, but it was too late. Cristina was pronounced dead at the scene.

Rita Pangalangan and King claimed that they had accidentally locked Cristina and the car keys inside the car when they went inside the house to take a nap. They said they thought the air conditioning was running and that Cristina would be fine.

However, their story was contradicted by surveillance footage that showed them putting Cristina in the car at 11:15 a.m., shutting the door and leaving her there. They were absent for an hour, briefly returned to check on her, then went back into the house. They did not come out for another three hours, and even when they did, they simply drove off in King’s truck, leaving Cristina Pangalangan alone for another hour.

Prosecutors argued that Rita Pangalangan and King intentionally left Cristina in the car to die because they wanted to get rid of her. They said that the couple was high on methamphetamine and alcohol during the time Cristina Pangalangan was left in the car and that they were having sex instead of caring for her. They also said that Rita Pangalangan had planned to give up custody of Cristina to her older sister Elizabeth Clyde soon after she graduated from college.

A Justice Served or a Mercy Denied?

Rita Pangalangan and King were arrested on August 6, 2019, and charged with murder, unlawful conduct towards a child, and criminal conspiracy. They pleaded not guilty and went to trial in August 2023.

The trial lasted for five days and featured testimonies from witnesses, experts, family members, and law enforcement officers. The jury deliberated for two hours and 25 minutes before finding Rita Pangalangan and King guilty on all charges. The judge sentenced them to 35 years in prison each, the maximum penalty allowed by law.

Rita Pangalangan’s family and friends pleaded for leniency during the sentencing phase of the trial, saying that she loved Cristina and was overwhelmed by the challenges of raising a child with special needs.

They also blamed King for influencing her behavior and decisions. However, the judge rejected their arguments and said that Rita Pangalangan and King had shown no remorse or empathy for Cristina Pangalangan’s suffering. He said that they had tortured and abandoned Cristina time and time again and that they deserved the harshest punishment possible.

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