Midland Man Charged With Murder After Leaving Toddler in Vehicle

MIDLAND, TX — A Midland man has been charged with murder after a night of drinking and leaving a toddler inside a vehicle for about nine hours.

Lorenzo Rodriguez, 25, was charged with after leaving a 2-year-old inside a black vehicle from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.

In a release issued by the Midland Police Department, it states:

"At approximately 7:56 p.m. on July 26, 2026, Midland Police Department officers were dispatched to the 100 block of East Pecan Avenue in reference to an unresponsive 2-year-old child locked inside a vehicle.

"Upon arrival, officers contacted a male, identified as 25-year-old Lorenzo Rodriguez. Officers also contacted Lorenzo’s family members, who provided an initial statement.

"Family members stated they arrived at the residence to check on Lorenzo and his 2-year-old daughter after Lorenzo had consumed alcoholic beverages the previous night. 

“After repeatedly knocking on the front door and receiving no response, they went to the west side of the residence, removed a window air-conditioning unit, and entered the residence to check on the welfare of Lorenzo and the child,” MPD reported.

“They found Lorenzo asleep and woke him at approximately 8:00 p.m. Lorenzo had been asleep since approximately 11:00 a.m.

The brother and sister-in-law were unable to locate the child inside the residence. They ran outside to a black Kia passenger car where they found the child inside the vehicle. The family members broke a window to gain access to the vehicle and removed the 2-year-old child. The child was transported to Midland Memorial Hospital where she was pronounced deceased."

Base on the evidence gathered during the investigation into the death of his 2-year-old daughter, Rodriguez was charged with capital murder.