An Arkansas couple has pleaded guilty to murder and faces decades in prison for the tragic death of their 2-year-old son, who was abandoned in a hot car with his three siblings.
Will Jones, the prosecuting attorney for Pulaski County, announced on April 18 that Deja Rollins, 28, and Justin Rollins, 30, pleaded guilty to two counts of second-degree murder and one count of first-degree domestic battery.
A judge in Little Rock sentenced the couple to 70 years in prison, according to Jones.
The couple was arrested in July 2024 after taking their 3-year-old child to Arkansas Children’s Hospital in Little Rock for emergency treatment. Their other children, ages two, four, seven, and ten, were discovered locked in a car in the hospital parking lot. Sadly, Jay’Dien Rollins, a 3-year-old, died the following day.
According to local news outlet KARK, the couple’s domestic battery charges stem from a case of child abuse that initially landed their 3-year-old in the hospital.
“This case is one of the most disturbing and heartbreaking our office has ever encountered,” Jones said in a statement. “This office’s number one priority is to protect children. There is no greater responsibility. We will continue to do everything we can to hold those who harm children accountable.
All Four Children Trapped in the Hot Car Reportedly Suffered Heat Exhaustion
Police in Jacksonville said in a press release that they responded to a child abuse report on July 7, 2024. The incident started when the couple’s three-year-old was taken to the hospital. Security personnel contacted authorities after discovering that the couple’s four other children had been left unattended in a car.
Police reported that when emergency responders rescued the four children from the car, they were all suffering from heat exhaustion. They were taken to the hospital right away, but Jay’Dien, who was two years old, passed away the next day.
Investigators discovered a malnourished dog at the Rollins’ home, and it was turned over to Jacksonville Animal Services. The couple was initially charged with animal cruelty, but the charges were dropped as part of a plea deal.
Jones also thanked the Little Rock and Jacksonville police departments, the doctors at Arkansas Children’s Hospital, and other officials.
“Thanks to the combined efforts of these dedicated professionals, we were able to achieve a resolution that reflects the gravity of these crimes. “It ensures that these children are not forgotten,” Jones said in the statement.