Arkansas couple charged with murder of 3-year-old

JACKSONVILLE, Ark. – A Jacksonville couple arrested July 7 for leaving four children unattended in a hot vehicle were charged with aggravated murder Thursday after a 3-year-old died from his injuries.

Jacksonville police said the child died Sept. 20.

According to authorities, Justin Rollins and Deja Rollins parked their vehicle in front of Arkansas Children's Hospital (ACH), where the 3-year-old was receiving “urgent medical attention.”

When officers investigated, they were informed that the couple had four other children, ages 2, 4, 7 and 10, who were unattended in a hot vehicle.

ACH security asked Justin Rollins and Deja Rollins where the vehicle was parked, but they were “uncooperative.”

Security officers eventually located the vehicle and removed the children, who were then taken to the hospital for treatment as they appeared to be “suffering from heat exhaustion.”

A day later, the two-year-old child died.

Additionally, a search of the couple's home revealed a severely neglected dog that Jacksonville Animal Services had confiscated.

During an investigation, investigators obtained a murder affidavit for Justin and Deja Rollins. The two were taken into custody and are now facing multiple charges, including:

• Five counts of first-degree domestic battery
• Five counts of neglect of a vulnerable person
• Five counts of endangering the welfare of a minor
• One count of animal cruelty
• One count of obstructing government operations

This investigation is ongoing. We will update this story as more information becomes available.