Arabella McCormack, 11, died after being tortured and starved by adoptive family and police and church failed to intervene<\/b>
\nArabella McCormack, 11, died after being tortured and starved by adoptive family and police and church failed to intervene
A lawsuit over the death of an 11-year-old California girl who was allegedly tortured and starved by her adoptive family reached a settlement on Friday totaling $31.5m from the city and county of San Diego as well as other groups.
The suit was brought on behalf of the two younger sisters of Arabella McCormack, who died in August 2022. The girls were ages six and seven at the time. Their adoptive mother, Leticia McCormack, and McCormack\u2019s parents, Adella and Stanley Tom, are facing charges of murder, conspiracy, child abuse and torture. They pleaded not guilty to all charges, and their criminal case is ongoing.
The lawsuit alleged a systemic failure across the city and several agencies and organizations to not report Arabella McCormack\u2019s abuse.
The settlement includes $10m from the city of San Diego, $10m from San Diego county, $8.5m from the Pacific Coast Academy and $3m from the Rock church, the sisters\u2019 attorney, Craig McClellan, said. The school oversaw Arabella McCormack\u2019s home schooling, and her adoptive mother was an ordained elder at the church.
\u201cThe amount is going to be enough to take care of the girls for the rest of the lives,\u201d McClellan said. But it \u201cisn\u2019t going to be enough and never could be enough \u2026 to replace their sister, nor is it going to erase the memories of what they went through\u201d.
The lawsuit said county social workers did not properly investigate abuse claims and two teachers at the Pacific Coast Academy failed to report the girl\u2019s condition. It also said a San Diego police officer, a friend of the girl\u2019s adoptive mother, gave the family a wooden paddle that they could use to hit their children.
San Diego sheriff\u2019s deputies responded to a call of a child in distress at the McCormack home 30 August 2022. They found Arabella McCormack severely malnourished with bruises, authorities said. She was taken to a hospital, where she died.
Her sisters are now nine and 11 and living with a foster mother. They are in good health and \u201cdoing pretty well considering all things\u201d, McClellan said.<\/p>\n