In a tragic series of events, a couple from California has been taken into custody facing charges of murder and child abuse following the death of a 7-year-old girl and the hospitalization of a 5-year-old girl. Authorities revealed that the victims were the daughters of one of the accused, Jessica Savangsy.
Jessica Savangsy, 26, and Retuquel Dupree, a 27-year-old former police officer, have been charged with murder, conspiracy, and child abuse, according to a report by KCRA. This devastating incident has unfolded in their Roseville home, where the local police were summoned at approximately 7:30 a.m. on a Monday morning, as noted by CrimeOnline.
Upon arrival, officers discovered the 7-year-old girl with apparent injuries and promptly transported her to a hospital for medical attention. In the process of searching the residence, they also found the 5-year-old girl, who required hospitalization. Details regarding the nature of the injuries have not been disclosed, and the current status of the younger child remains uncertain.
During their investigation, police encountered two other children in the home who were fortunately unharmed. The ages of these children have not been released, and they are currently under the care of Child Protective Services.
Both Savangsy and Dupree had previous run-ins with the law. In October, they were arrested on charges of conspiracy and grand theft, while Dupree faced an additional charge for carrying a loaded firearm in public. They were released on bond in that case, as reported by KCRA.
Retuquel Dupree’s brief tenure as an officer with the Citrus Heights Police Department in 2021 also came to light. The department confirmed his two-month employment but provided no further details regarding his departure, only clarifying that he did not resign voluntarily.
According to KTXL, Dupree filed a lawsuit against the Citrus Heights department claiming he was wrongfully fired after the mother of his two daughters filed a “false” police report claiming he pushed her. The status of that lawsuit is not known.
The Sacramento Bee reported that he worked as a community safety officer at Sierra College for six months last year before he was placed on administrative leave. The college would not provide further information.
