HONOLULU (KHON2) — Honolulu prosecutors have formally charged two women in the horrific death of three-year-old girl Sarai Perez-Rivera, one of them her biological mother.
Court documents revealed a pattern of abuse involving not just Sarai but all of the children in the household. Some of the details are disturbing.
Janae Perez and Ashleigh Utley made their first appearance in court for several charges including murder, kidnapping, assault and endangering the welfare of a minor in connection to the June 2024 death of Perez’s daughter.
“We have really just seen the worst parts of society through these cases and there’s things that I couldn’t even mention specifics on the air, mostly because it’s just so indecent and it’s so tragic,” said Rafael Renteria, attorney and former city prosecutor.
Court documents said a neighbor’s security camera from the night the girl died shows video of Perez carrying the girl to and from the parking lot. Both times, the girl appeared motionless.
The medical examiner said the cause of death was “combined effects of dehydration and starvation.” Doctors said she was short and underweight for her age, ranking in just the third percentile.
They added that Sarai had bruises on her wrist and buttocks and there were signs suggesting she was denied use of a toilet and access to hygiene.
Court documents outlined a history of mistreatment from the women to all four of Perez’s biological children, including denying food and water, to abuse.
The most graphic comes from a woman who lived with the pair for about nine months in 2023.
In an interview with police, she claimed Utley and Perez would “mainly whack the kids with their hands, but also hit the children with sticks and paddles.”
The woman said the pair beat the oldest boy when he tried to run away from home, dragging him inside and beating him.
Utley used a long stick and screwdriver. Perez used a short two-by-four to whack him on the legs and arms. All as the other children watched from their rooms.
Under Hawaii law, abuse of a family or household member is a misdemeanor.
Attorneys said the most severe cases of abuse can’t be prosecuted until it’s too late, but there are bills at the legislature to change that.
“It’s horrifying and makes me really angry so it’s one reason that we moved this bill forward to try to catch, to have adequate punishment for people who do horrendous stuff like this,” said Sen. Karl Rhoads, (D) Senate judiciary committee chair.
“These specific charges of torture and starvation are important because it really sheds light on what’s going on in our community and it enables law enforcement to intervene at an earlier stage,” said Renteria. “And hopefully, the intent is to save lives of children.”
Bail is set at $1 million for both Perez and Utley. A preliminary hearing is set for Tuesday, March 4.