3YO Sarai & Her Siblings Endured Years Of Starvation & Abuse; Mother & Girlfriend Arrested

[Sugar Cookie]

It was last June when a little girl named Sarai Perez died. She lived in a complex of townhouses in Kapolei -- where authorities allege that Sarai and her three siblings endured years of starvation and abuse.

“This case was originally classified as an unattended death,” said Lt. Deena Thoemmes of the Honolulu Police Department’s homicide detail.

“After investigation, additional testing and medical information, this case was reclassified to murder in the second degree.”

The investigation began on June 13 of last year, when officers responded to a report of an unresponsive child at the home on Kekuilani Loop.

“Upon arriving at the home, first responders found Sarai malnourished and pulseless with ashen skin and bruises to her legs, hips, arms, face, back and head,” said Thoemmes.

The girl was taken to the Queen’s Medical Center West, where she was pronounced dead.

“Responding officers spoke with Janae Perez, who identified herself as Sarai’s mother, and Ashleigh Utley, who identified herself as Janae’s girlfriend,” Thoemmes said.


Police said Perez had four children, and had taken the two older boys, aged 6 and 5, out of school, claiming that she was homeschooling them.

According to police, the couple blamed Perez’s five-year-old son for abusing Sarai and causing her death. But investigators said it wasn’t his fault, and that all four children were being abused.

“It has also been determined that Janae and Ashleigh would primarily hit the children with their hands, sticks, paddles, slippers and belts to all parts of their body.”

Investigators also examined the Perez’s and Utley’s cellphones and found videos showing the children barricaded in their bedrooms.

“There was also disturbing video of Sarai crying and in severe discomfort and distress, saying that she had to use the bathroom and that she was thirsty,” Thoemmes said. “In response, Janae repeatedly yelled and swore at her.”

HPD said the three remaining siblings were examined, all showing signs of abuse and neglect.


Thoemmes said the medical examiner performed an autopsy on Sarai shortly after her death and deferred releasing a cause. It was just this past Monday that a forensic pathologist determined that the girl died from the combined effects of dehydration and starvation.

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MSN

 

[runninfawn]

neither of those 2 bee itches seems to have missed a meal but that poor baby sure did grrrrrrrrrrrrrr

 

[Sugar Cookie]

Sarai

 

[Sugar Cookie]

In court Friday, her mother shook her head when deputy prosecuting attorney Erika Candelario mentioned the alleged abuse: “This case involves a starvation and murder of the defendant’s 3-year-old daughter, as well as the starvation, beating and restraint of at least two other children in the care of both defendants.”

Police say Perez blamed the child’s death on Sarai’s 5-year-old brother, but newly released court documents lay out the disturbing details that HPD uncovered during its investigation.


It says Perez and Utley denied using physical discipline, and instead punished the children by feeding them “fish and sauerkraut.”

But police interviewed Sarai’s eldest sibling, who said he was repeatedly hit with a belt by his mother.

The 6-year-old also said his sister was making noises he described as “weird” and “suffering” on the day she died.

Also, Sarai’s 5-year-old brother told police he did not harm her that day. He also told an investigator Sarai “went “up, up” to see Jesus and asked if Jesus had food in heaven, because his mother says Jesus does not have food.

Lt. Thoemmes said, “Through the investigation, it was learned that Janae and Ashley limited Sarai and her siblings intake of water and food. Janae and Ashley did not allow them to eat often and only allowed them to drink eight ounces of water a day.”

Investigators examined Perez’s and Utley’s cellphones and found videos of Sarai in distress and of the children barricaded in their bedrooms.

Police also interviewed family members, including the child’s grandmother, who said she confronted her daughter about the alleged abuse and reported it to Child Welfare Services.

Forensic pathologists determined Sarai died from the combined effects of dehydration and starvation.

“Defendants, the state will note, are also facing enhanced sentencing given the torture circumstances by which the minor victim died and the fact that she was under the age of 8,” the prosecution said.

Mother, girlfriend appear in court on murder charges in toddler’s death

In court Friday, Janae Perez shook her head when a prosecutor mentioned the alleged abuse.

www.hawaiinewsnow.com

 

[BuffettGirl]

WHY?!?!?!? What was the issue? What did those babies do to only be allowed a meager 8 oz. of water a day? It's just enough to kill them slowly...

 

[Sugar Cookie]

@BuffettGirl

An angry woman who hated that her bitch like riding dicks before she arrived on the scene.