A mother in Hawaii and her girlfriend have been arrested in connection with the alleged abuse and death of the mother’s 3-year-old daughter, Sarai Perez-Rivera. According to authorities, the child was severely starved and beaten to death, enduring physical abuse with implements such as belts, paddles, sticks, and slippers. The abuse was reportedly ongoing, not only toward Sarai but also toward her three siblings, aged between 2 and 6, who managed to survive the ordeal.
When first responders arrived at the scene, they found Sarai’s body to be malnourished and lifeless, with ashen skin and multiple bruises covering her body, including her face, arms, legs, back, and head. Honolulu Police Department Lt. Deena Thoemmes explained that Sarai and her siblings had been subjected to extreme conditions, with their food and water intake severely restricted. The children were only allowed to drink a mere 8 ounces of water each day, and their access to food was limited. These harsh conditions were allegedly orchestrated by the child’s mother, Janae Perez, and her girlfriend, Ashley Utley.
The tragic case began to unravel when a woman, who had previously lived with Perez and Utley, came forward to authorities after Perez-Rivera’s biological father reported her death. This woman revealed disturbing details of the abuse that occurred in the home, including reports of Perez and Utley regularly hitting the children with various objects. The woman claimed the couple used their hands, sticks, paddles, slippers, and belts to physically punish the children. Some of the most heart-wrenching moments captured during the investigation included a video where Sarai could be heard crying in distress, asking to use the bathroom and for water, only to be yelled at by Perez, who reportedly swore at the child.
In one particularly disturbing incident, the couple allegedly beat a 6-year-old child who attempted to run away, using a stick and a screwdriver. Neighbors reported hearing the children’s cries, often coming from upstairs, but many were unsure of the extent of the abuse taking place within the home.
Police also uncovered that during the abuse, the other children were often forced to witness the beatings, either from their rooms or from other areas of the house. Despite this, Perez and Utley initially tried to shift the blame for Sarai’s death onto a 5-year-old child living in the home. However, police investigation disproved this claim. The 6-year-old sibling described hearing sounds from Sarai on the day of her death that he believed indicated she was suffering. Meanwhile, the 5-year-old reportedly told investigators that Sarai had “gone up, up” to see Jesus and asked whether Jesus had food in heaven. The mother had previously told them that Jesus neither ate nor had food.
The abuse had a profound impact on the children, both physically and emotionally. The surviving children are now in protective custody, away from the individuals responsible for their torment. The community has expressed deep sorrow over the loss of Sarai, with many neighbors describing their shock and sadness upon learning the details of what happened behind closed doors.
This case has sparked outrage and grief, with calls for justice for the young girl and for the surviving children to receive the care and support they need to heal from the trauma they endured.
