Police in Hawaii have announced the arrest of three individuals in connection with the death of a 10-year-old girl. Geanna Bradley allegedly died in horrific conditions in a Wahiawa home at the hands of her legal guardians, Brandy and Thomas Blas, and a third adult, Debra Garon. When police arrived at the house after a call about an unresponsive child, they were not prepared for what they found.
During a media conference, Honolulu Police Lt. Deena Thoemmes gave gruesome details about Geanna's physical state at the time of her death. The child was reportedly extremely emaciated and showed signs of brutal physical abuse. Brandy and Thomas Blas and Geron each face second-degree murder charges in the horrific death.
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Police arrived at the home in late January.
Thoemmes explained during the media conference that Honolulu police responded to a call regarding an unresponsive child on January 18. Geron allegedly told police she tried to wake Geanna for breakfast, but her body was "cold and stiff."
Emergency personnel tried to revive the young girl with a defibrillator, but she was pronounced dead at the scene. After further investigation, officers found signs of what appeared to be ongoing abuse.
Brandy Blas reportedly claimed to be Geanna's mother.
Thoemmes said Brandy Blas and Geron identified themselves as Geanna's mother and grandmother and told police they had not seen the child since the night before when she went to her bedroom after dinner. Geron reportedly said she administered CPR when she found Geanna before calling 911 for help.
Homicide investigators were called after further examination of Geanna's injuries, police said. The injuries to her face were reportedly so significant that she was missing part of the bridge of her nose.
Her caregivers claim the child had a mental illness.
According to statements to police, the Blases and Geron claimed that Geanna had ADHD and may have been suffering from schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. She reportedly took medication and saw a therapist but allegedly continued to have behavioral problems and often had temper tantrums and "threw herself to the ground," Thoemmes said.
The Honolulu Civil Beat reported that Brandy and Thomas Blas received government funding of $1,961 monthly to care for Geanna.
An autopsy determined the child's death was not an accident.
Thoemmes said during the media conference that the Honolulu medical examiner determined Geanna died from prolonged abuse. Her caregivers claimed the child was treated "well" and got along with the other children in the house, who are 14, 10, 5, 4, and 3. But video reportedly found at the home showed footage of a child investigators believe was Geanna, bound with tape and held in a cage.
Additionally, during the investigation, police determined the couple's 4-year-old adoptive son had also been injured and was markedly thin. All of the children were removed from the home and placed in the care of Child Welfare Services.
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Geanna's biological mother is asking for help burying her daughter.
Amy Hart created a GoFundMe account to gather funds for Geanna's final expenses. She had allegedly tried to regain custody of her daughter but was not successful. Now, she hopes loved ones will join together to honor her daughter.
"This wasn't what I wanted for my baby to come home this way. But now I know in my heart that she's finally at peace, safe, and free, looking over all of those loved her," she wrote on the page.
The GoFundMe has raised $395 of its $10,000 goal thus far.
Her biological father, Gerime Bradley, posted on Facebook that there will be a vigil in her honor on February 15.
"Please come and show your support for my baby who was a victim of such a brutal life and death in the hands of her state and the foster parents. This had to stop. This is for all the Geanna's in the world. To my friends and family please forgive me if I don't answer your phone calls and text," he wrote. "I'm not in a good place right now. I'm not suicidal. But I am torn by what has happened to my child by the state and these evil people. How could you do this to any child. Why why why why why why why!!"
If convicted of second-degree murder, the accused could face life in prison.
If you suspect child abuse, you can call the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-422-4453 (1-800-4-A-Child) or go to Childhelp.org. The hotline is available 24/7.
