Rita Pangalangan: How a Teacher of the Year Became a Murderer of Her Disabled Daughter Cristina Pangalangan

Rita Pangalangan, a former teacher of the year, and her boyfriend Larry King Jr. were found guilty of murder, criminal conspiracy, and great bodily harm of a child for the death of Pangalangan’s 13-year-old daughter, Cristina, who had special needs. The couple left the girl in a hot car for nearly six hours on a summer day in 2019, causing her to die from heatstroke.

A tragic and preventable death

According to prosecutors, Rita Pangalangan and King left Cristina Pangalangan in a 2012 Volkswagen Jetta parked outside King’s home in Colleton County, South Carolina, on August 5, 2019. The temperature that day reached 91 degrees Fahrenheit, but inside the car it was much hotter. Cristina was non-verbal and wheelchair-bound, and could not escape or call for help.

The couple claimed they went inside the house to take a nap, but witnesses testified that they saw them drinking alcohol, smoking marijuana and having sex during the time Cristina was left in the car. They also said that Pangalangan ignored several phone calls from her ex-husband, who was worried about Cristina’s whereabouts.

When Rita Pangalangan and King finally checked on Cristina around 4 p.m., 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.

A shocking betrayal by a mother and a teacher

Rita Pangalangan’s actions shocked and outraged many people who knew her as a caring mother and a dedicated teacher. She had been named teacher of the year at Colleton County Middle School in 2014, and had taught early childhood education for over 20 years. She had also been involved in several community organizations that supported children with disabilities.

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 jury rejected their arguments and found Rita Pangalangan and King equally responsible for Cristina’s death. The judge sentenced them to 35 years in prison each, the maximum penalty allowed by law.

A reminder of the dangers of hot cars

Cristina’s death was one of many cases of children dying in hot cars in the United States. According to KidsAndCars.org, an advocacy group that tracks such incidents, an average of 39 children die every year from vehicular heatstroke. Most of these deaths are accidental, but some are intentional or negligent.

The group urges parents and caregivers to never leave children alone in cars, even for a few minutes, and to always check the back seat before locking the doors. They also recommend using visual reminders, such as placing a stuffed animal or a purse in the front seat or setting an alarm on the phone.

Additionally, they advise bystanders to call 911 and break into a car if they see a child in distress inside a vehicle. In most states, there are laws that protect people from liability if they act in good faith to save a child’s life.

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