A mother in Hawaii is behind bars, along with her girlfriend, for allegedly starving and beating her 3-year-old daughter to death using belts, paddles, sticks and slippers to pound on the toddler — while also limiting her water intake to 8 ounces a day — along with her three of her siblings, ages 2 through 6, who managed to survive the “disturbing” abuse, according to police.
“First responders found Sarai malnourished and pulseless, with ashen skin and bruises to her legs, hips, arms, face, back, and head,” said Honolulu Police Department Lt. Deena Thoemmes at a press conference last Thursday after announcing the arrests of Janae Perez and Ashley Utley for the death of Perez’s daughter, Sarai Perez-Rivera, in June 2024, according to Hawaii News Now.
“Through the investigation, it was learned that Janae and Ashley limited Sarai and her siblings intake of water and food,” according to Thoemmes. “Janae and Ashley did not allow them to eat often and only allowed them to drink 8 ounces of water a day.”
A woman who used to live with Perez and Utley allegedly went to police and told them about the majority of the abuse after Perez-Rivera’s biological father reported her death last year.
The couple was not charged until last week, when local prosecutors filed second-degree murder charges against both of them, along with other charges related to the alleged abuse and neglect.
Officials identified Perez-Rivera’s death as the result of a combination of dehydration and starvation. The surviving children are currently in protective custody.
During police interviews, the woman who lived with Perez and Utley claimed the couple would “mainly whack the kids with their hands, but also hit the children with sticks and paddles,” according to Thoemmes.
“Janae and Ashley would primarily hit the children with their hands, sticks, paddles, slippers and belts to all parts of their body,” according to a police report.
“There was also disturbing video of Sarai crying and in severe discomfort and distress, claiming that she needed to use the restroom and was thirsty.” Janae responded by repeatedly yelling and swearing at her.”
According to court documents obtained by local ABC affiliate KITV, Perez and Utley allegedly beat the 6-year-old living in the home with a stick and screwdriver on one occasion after he attempted to flee.
A neighbor told the station, “I remember hearing them cry upstairs several times.” “A few of them were crying.” Some of them weren’t sure what was going on.”
The woman who spoke with police about the abuse stated that Perez and Utley would carry out their attacks while the other children watched and listened from their rooms and other areas of the house.
When they were first arrested, Perez and Utley accused the 5-year-old child who lived with them of being responsible for Perez-Rivera’s death, which was allegedly disproven during the police investigation.
The 6-year-old told police that on the day she died, his sister made “weird” noises that sounded like they were “suffering.”
The 5-year-old allegedly told investigators that Perez-Rivera went “up, up” to see Jesus and asked police if Jesus had food in heaven because his mother had told him that Jesus does not eat or have food.
“Just pure sadness,” the family’s neighbour told KITV. “I hope Perez-Rivera receives the justice she deserves. And I hope the other children are taken care of now.”
