A mother shot a filthy look a filthy look and shook her head when a court was told how she and her girlfriend gave her toddler to death before she blamed her five -year -old son for the murder.
Janae Perez, 25, and her friend of four years, 33-year-old Ashleigh Utley, first appeared in court on Friday after being accused of starving and abusing their four children, including three-year-old Sarai Perez Rivera.
“This case includes the hunger and murder of the three -year -old daughter of the defendants,” said prosecutor Erika Candelario.
Perez, Sarai's mother, was seen in the court that shook her head while the charges were read aloud before she shot a nasty look at the court on the alleged 'beating' of her children.
“Like the hunger, beating and restraint of at least two other children in the care of both defendants,” Candelario continued.
Perez's daughter Sarai died in June last year, she was found by the police in their parental home in Kapolei.
Lieutenant Deena Thoemmes from the Honolulu police said they found the little girl malnourished and pulseless with an ashid and bruises to her legs, hips, arms, face, back and head. '
The police said that Perez blamed her daughter's death to Sarai's five -year -old brother, but judicial documents obtained by Hawaii News have already detailed the abuse of the children.
Janae Perez saw the court shoot a nasty look when she first appeared next to her friend on Friday, because their charges were read aloud for the murder of three -year -old Sarai Perez Rivera
Lieutenant Deena Thoemmes from the Honolulu police said they found the little girl malnourished and pulseless with an ashid and bruises in her legs, hips, arms, face, back and head '
Perez, 25, and her friend of four years, 33-year-old Ashleigh Utley, first appeared for the first time on Friday after they were accused of starving and abusing their four children, including three-year-old Sarai Perez Rivera
The documents said that Perez and Utley denied that they physically struck the children, but instead punished them by feeding them 'fish and sauerkraut'.
However, the police interviewed the eldest brother or sister of Sarai who said he was repeatedly hit by his mother with a belt.
Thoemmes promoted that “Janae and Ashley would mainly touch the children with their hands, sticks, paddles, slippers and belts to all parts of their bodies.”
The six -year -old said his sister made sounds that he described as 'weird' and 'suffering' on the day she died.
The five -year -old brother of Sarai told the police that he didn't hurt her that day, but said she “had gone up” to see Jesus and asked if Jesus had food in heaven because his mother said he has no food.
Lt. Thoemmes said: 'The research made it learned that Janae and Ashley Sarai and her brothers and sisters limited the intake of water and food. Janae and Ashely did not allow them to eat often and only left them to drink our water a day. '
Videos on the mobile phones of their couple, obtained by the police, showed videos from Sarai in Need and from the children barricaded in their bedrooms.
“There was also a disturbing video of Sarai crying and in serious discomfort and need, saying that she should use the bathroom and that she was thirsty,” said Thoemmes. “In response, Janae shouted repeatedly and swore against her.”
The five -year -old brother of Sarai told the police that he didn't hurt her that day, but said she “went up” to see Jesus and asked if Jesus had food in heaven because his mother said he didn't have food
Lt. Thoemmes said: 'The research made it learned that Janae and Ashley Sarai and her brothers and sisters limited the intake of water and food. Janae and Ashely did not allow them to eat often and only let them drink water a day '
The police also interviewed the child's grandmother, who said she had confronted her daughter with the alleged abuse and had contacted services for children's welfare.
Her grandmother told Honolulu Civil Beat: 'I have seen something. I said something. But the problem is that it didn't matter. It didn't work because nobody listened. '
It was established that Sarai had died of the combined effects of dehydration and hunger.
Thoemmes said their house 'had enough food to feed their children, but they chose not to do that'.
According to the outlet, Sarai was declared dead eighteen minutes after arrival.
She turned out to have suffered extreme pain, mental need and exposure to domestic violence, as well as remembering food, clothing, medical care, education and appeared to have received dangerous drugs, Honolulu Civil Beat reported.
“Defendants, the state will also be confronted with improved conviction given the torture conditions with which the minor victim died and the fact that she was younger than 8,” said persecution.
A neighbor of the family told Island News that she had heard the children cry above her, but she had not seen anymore since she lived in the complex.
Lt. Thoemmes said their house 'had enough food to feed their children, but they chose not'
Perez and Utley were accused of second-degree murder, two counts of kidnapping, first degree attempt at abuse, several counts of endangering the well-being of a minor, persistent non-support and obstructing prosecution in the first degree in the first degree
“I remember that I heard them several times, just crying up, but that's it,” said neighbor Alexis. “I just saw them all sitting here and I didn't realize how many children were actually above me.”
“Some of them cried. Some of them didn't really know what was going on, “she went on.
“Just pure sadness. I hope she gets the justice she needs. And the other children, I hope they will be cared for now, “she concluded.
Perez and Utley were accused of second-degree murder, two counts of kidnapping, first degree attempt at mistreatment, several counts of endangering the well-being of a small, persistent non-support and obstructing prosecution in the first degree.
They are both held in the Women's Community Correctional Center in Hawaii, their next court performance was not immediately available.
