HONOLULU (KHON2) — The grandmother of the toddler who prosecutors said died of abuse by her mother has filed a lawsuit against the state.

Three-year-old Sarai Perez Riviera died at her Kapolei home in June 2024.

The Medical Examiner said the cause of death was starvation and dehydration and she appeared to be chronically abused.

Sarai’s grandmother filed a lawsuit against the state Department of Human Services saying relatives called Child Welfare Services and another child advocacy group at least three times in 2024.

They worried that Sarai and her siblings were “dirty and uncared for” and appeared to be “skinny and losing weight.”

“They did fail the family. That really is the crux of the case. She did what she could to try and help the children. She reported it and DHS and CWS failed to protect these four kids. As a result, one of them is dead,” said Mark Gallagher, family attorney.

An Oahu grand jury indicted Sarai’s mother and girlfriend — Janae Perez and Ashleigh Utley — for murder and other charges related to her death.

KHON2 has reached out to DHS for comment.