Khaberni - One of the most painful humanitarian cases in the state of California, USA, ended with a substantial financial settlement, following the death of an 11-year-old girl amid horrific accusations of her being tortured and starved within her foster family, in an incident that provoked widespread outrage and harsh questions about the failure of protection systems.
The case dates back to the death of Arabella McCormack in August 2022 when a legal suit was filed on behalf of her younger sisters, who were six and seven years old at the time, demanding accountability for the parties that overlooked repeated abuse indicators.
According to the details of the settlement, an agreement was reached to pay $31.5 million by the City of San Diego, its county, and educational and religious entities, after they were accused of failing to report the violations suffered by the child before her death.
The adoptive mother Letecia McCormack, along with her parents Adela and Stanley Tom, faces severe charges including murder, conspiracy, child torture, and maltreatment; while the defendants maintain their innocence of all charges, the criminal case is still ongoing in court.
The suit revealed a significant systemic flaw, according to its documents, involving official institutions and various organizations, all of which were accused of failing to protect the child or intervene in time despite the presence of warning signs.
In turn, attorney Craig McClellan clarified that the settlement was distributed between ten million dollars from the City of San Diego, an equivalent amount from the county, plus 8.5 million dollars from the Pacific Coast Academy which was overseeing the child’s home-schooling, and three million dollars from Rock Church.
He added that this money will ensure lifelong care for the sisters, but it will not compensate for the loss of their sister nor erase the impacts of the suffering and harsh experiences they witnessed, which are unforgettable.
