3 arrested for allegedly abusing 10-year-old, tying her with duct tape, and starving her to death
02/12/2024 12:02 pm PST
HONOLULU (TCD) -- Three people have been arrested on multiple charges after a 10-year-old girl was found dead from apparent physical abuse, medical neglect, and starvation last month.
In a press conference, Honolulu Police Department Lt. Deena Thoemmes announced Feb. 9 that Brandy Blas, Thomas Blas, and Debra Geron were taken into custody and charged with second-degree murder, kidnapping, conspiracy to commit kidnapping, first-degree unlawful imprisonment, and conspiracy to commit first-degree unlawful imprisonment for the death of Geanna Bradley. Brandy Blas and Geron are also charged with hindering prosecution, while Brandy Blas and Thomas Blas are facing a count of endangering the welfare of a minor.
Brandy and Thomas Blas are reportedly Bradley’s legal guardians, and Geron described herself as the girl’s grandmother.
According to Thoemmes, on Jan. 18, Honolulu Police officers went to a home in Wahiawa because paramedics called in to say they needed a defibrillator for a 10-year-old girl who was found "cold and stiff." Police noted Bradley had "significant injuries" and bruises all over her body.
Geron allegedly said she last saw Bradley on Jan. 17 when the girl went to bed after dinner, and when Geron went to wake her up, Bradley’s body was cold. Thoemmes said Bradley had scratch marks around her ears, cheeks, and lips, bruises on her eyelids, rashes on her chin, and a partially missing nose bridge.
Officials initially classified the case as an "unattended death," but investigators consulted a pediatrician who specializes in child abuse. The doctor said Bradley’s "condition was consistent with medical neglect, physical neglect, and chronic physical abuse," as well as fatal starvation. The doctor said Bradley's injuries, including the "very deep" nose bridge wound and other scars around her mouth, were "indications of trauma significant enough to break teeth."
Bradley was one of six children in the home. Four were Brandy Blas' biological children and there was a 4-year-old boy who was adopted. Bradley’s guardians allegedly said the girl was diagnosed with ADHD, and they believed she might have schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. She was reportedly on medication and saw a psychologist once a month. The Blases and Geron said she had tantrums daily and would throw herself on the ground and injure herself.
Thoemmes said the 4-year-old also sustained apparent abuse-related injuries, but the biological children did not. Child Welfare Services removed all children from the home during the investigation. The 4-year-old has been with the family since he was a toddler.
According to Thoemmes, detectives obtained warrants to search cellphones and found videos that allegedly show a girl that appears to be Bradley stuck in a small enclosed porch area with her arms duct taped to her torso and her eyes shut with tape.
Additionally, there were allegedly videos of "violent interactions" involving the adults abusing Bradley. Thoemmes said, "The child’s arms are taped to her torso, and there is duct tape wrapped around her eyes, forehead, and over the top of her head."
On Feb. 8, a forensic pathologist conducted an autopsy and determined Bradley died from multiple effects of prolonged child abuse and neglect. Cause of death was the result of starvation, blunt force injury due to assault, prolonged immobilization and physical restraint, medical neglect, and pneumonia.
Bradley had been under Thomas Blas and Brandy Blas' supervision since she was about 2 years old. She was reportedly taken out of school in October 2022.
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