CA - Aarabella McCormack, 11, Murdered, 2 Siblings Abused and Tortured by Adoptive Caregivers, San Diego, Nov 2022

[Curious Me]

Thanks! I shall check in - maybe Friday...

 

[Niner]

View attachment 444287

Will this be for ALL of them - or just Leticia? TIA!

 

[Curious Me]

@Niner, only looked up the one, but I'm pretty sure it's all of them. You're welcome.

 

[Niner]

@Niner, only looked up the one, but I'm pretty sure it's all of them. You're welcome.

Thanks a bunch!! VERY much appreciated!

Do not know "why" I can not access that site anymore.... but VERY GLAD that you can help me!

 

[Niner]

Tuesday, October 24th:
*Preliminary Exam Hearing for all (@ 8:40am PT) - CA - Aarabella McCormack (11) tortured & abuse & died & 2 sisters (6 & 7) abused & tortured, August 30, 2022, San Diego) – *Leticia Diane McCormack (49/now 50) adopted “mother” indicted (11/4/22), arrested (11/7/22) & charged (11/8/22) with 1 count of murder, 3 counts of torture & 3 counts of willful child cruelty in connection with the death of Arabelle & the abuse of her other children. Plead not guilty. Held without bond.
*CA -Aarabella McCormack (11) & 2 sisters (6 & 7) – *Adella Juanita Tom (70/now 71) McCormack's mother arrested (11/7/22) & charged (11/8/22) with 3 counts of torture & 3 counts of willful child cruelty. Plead not guilty. Held without bond. Bond denied (11/29/22). Bond denied (12/20/22). Bond set at $100K (3/6/23).
*CA - Aarabella McCormack (11) & 2 sisters (6 & 7) - *Stanley Tom (75/now 76) McCormack's father arrested (11/7/22) & charged (11/8/22) with 1 count of murder, 3 counts of torture & 3 counts of willful child cruelty. Plead not guilty. Held without bond.
The three girls moved in the McCormack residence in 2017 as foster children & were adopted 2 years later. The three suspects allegedly abused & tortured McCormack’s three daughters for about five & a half years, leading up to Aarabella’s death in late August, 2022.
Case & Court info from 8/30/22 thru 3/6/23 reference post #138 here:
https://www.websleuths.com/forums/t...y-adoptive-caregivers-san-diego.644196/page-7
5/23/23 Update: Preliminary exam hearing was rescheduled on 8/29/23 for all. 8/29/23 Update: Preliminary hearings were rescheduled for all on 10/24/23 @ 8:40am.

 

[Niner]

Got this in my email Alert from San Diego County courts - so no link

THE FOLLOWING EVENT(S) HAVE BEEN ADDED FOR CASE CE414848:

Preliminary Exam Readiness scheduled for Jan 16 2024 8:30AM at the San Diego Superior Court, East County Division, East County Regional Center in Department 2.

Preliminary Exam scheduled for Jan 30 2024 8:40AM at the San Diego Superior Court, East County Division, East County Regional Center in Department 11.

 

[Curious Me]

...Preliminary Exam scheduled for Jan 30 2024 8:40AM at the San Diego Superior Court, East County Division, East County Regional Center in Department 11.

Thanks @Niner. I came here to post the same thing. Glad to see this is moving along. Hope there's no chance of any charges being dismissed. What happens in the Preliminary Exam different than the hearing? ​

Defendant Leticia Diane McCormack Adella Juanita Tom Stanley Tom	Defense Counsel Gregory Garrison
CASE CE414848	Date 01/16/2024	Time 08:30 AM	Judge
Event Preliminary Exam Readiness
Location San Diego Superior Court, East County Division, East County Regional Center, Dept. 2

CASE CE414848	Date 01/30/2024	Time 08:40 AM	Judge
Event Preliminary Exam
Location San Diego Superior Court, East County Division, East County Regional Center, Dept. 11

 

[Niner]

snipped...

What happens in the Preliminary Exam different than the hearing?

What Happens During a Preliminary Hearing in California? Both the prosecution and defense will present their evidence and witnesses. The standard of proof is lower than on a real trial since the judge must only determine if there is probable cause. That means the evidence presented does not need to be substantial.

 

[Curious Me]

What Happens During a Preliminary Hearing in California? Both the prosecution and defense will present their evidence and witnesses. The standard of proof is lower than on a real trial since the judge must only determine if there is probable cause. That means the evidence presented does not need to be substantial.

Thanks, @Niner, but what is different in the Preliminary EXAM? I think they have to have a follow up within 15 days of the Hearing, but the word "exam" means they're going to examine further beyond the Hearing? I think it's when they examine the new charges in the "Information" the Prosecution has to prepare and file after the Preliminary Hearing. As many trials as I've followed, I'm still learning. Things are always shifting too, so you can't be too sure what's going to happen.
​

At the end of the hearing, the judge decides if there's enough proof for the case to go to trial. If the judge decides there is enough proof, the defendant is "held to answer." ​

The prosecution then files charges in a document called an Information. The prosecutor can only include charges that the judge said they had enough proof to move forward with. Then, the defendant will have a second arraignment based on the charges in the Information. They will then get more court dates, including more court dates to try to settle the case and to discuss when to set a trial. Pretrial activities in a criminal case | California Courts | Self Help Guide​

 

[Curious Me]

Being Christmas Eve, I happened to see Miles McPherson, pastor and founder of The Rock Church in San Diego on my tv. His message didn't reach me because all I could think about was Aarabella.

So many people let that little girl down. She was basically tortured the last years of her life and people looked the other way. Members of the church were told it was a "spiritual battle" going on with Aarabella. When she passed, died from the abuse, the Pastor made some statements washing his hands of what went on that caused Aarabella's death, he didn't know, or the mother wasn't officially on the staff of the church. He distanced himself from the adoptive parents, members of his church, one that was, in fact, giving classes as a staff member.

I would've rather he voiced his shock and horror that anyone allowed to conduct classes in his church could be so abusive to children. A wolf in sheep's clothing. Aarabella deserved so much more in her short life. Again, this Christmas I'm thinking about Aarabella and all the good things she won't experience. ​

 

[Niner]

From my Alert Notification - do not know which of defendants this is for - but they all are there for a Preliminary exam readiness hearing on 1/16/24. I have McCormack & Stanley with no bond & Adele's got reduced to $100K on 3/6/23.

District Attorney Case Notification <[email protected]>

10:47 AM (36 minutes ago)

to me
THE FOLLOWING EVENT(S) HAVE BEEN ADDED FOR CASE CE414848:

Felony Bail Review scheduled for Jan 16 2024 8:30AM at the San Diego Superior Court, East County Division, East County Regional Center in Department 2.

 

[Curious Me]

...I have McCormack & Stanley with no bond & Adele's got reduced to $100K on 3/6/23...

You're keeping up fine, @Niner. Sounds like those two are going to try to get out on a bond, too.

This is all I can get from the site, @Niner. No mention of a Felony Bail Review, but probably added and not updated on their site. Two dates for each 1/16/24 and 1/30/2024. Justice for Aarabella.​

 

[Niner]

Thanks @Curious Me !

 

[Niner]

Tuesday, January 16th:
*Preliminary Exam Readiness Hearing for all (@ 8:30am PT) - CA - Aarabella McCormack (11) tortured & abuse & died & 2 sisters (6 & 7) abused & tortured, August 30, 2022, San Diego) – *Leticia Diane McCormack (49/now 50) adopted “mother” indicted (11/4/22), arrested (11/7/22) & charged (11/8/22) with 1 count of murder, 3 counts of torture & 3 counts of willful child cruelty in connection with the death of Arabelle & the abuse of her other children. Plead not guilty. Held without bond.
*CA -Aarabella McCormack (11) & 2 sisters (6 & 7) – *Adella Juanita Tom (70/now 72) McCormack's mother arrested (11/7/22) & charged (11/8/22) with 3 counts of torture & 3 counts of willful child cruelty. Plead not guilty. Held without bond. Bond denied (11/29/22). Bond denied (12/20/22). Bond set at $100K (3/6/23).
*CA - Aarabella McCormack (11) & 2 sisters (6 & 7) - *Stanley Tom (75/now 76) McCormack's father arrested (11/7/22) & charged (11/8/22) with 1 count of murder, 3 counts of torture & 3 counts of willful child cruelty. Plead not guilty. Held without bond.
The three girls moved in the McCormack residence in 2017 as foster children & were adopted 2 years later. The three suspects allegedly abused & tortured McCormack’s three daughters for about five & a half years, leading up to Aarabella’s death in late August, 2022.
Case & Court info from 8/30/22 thru 3/6/23 reference post #138 here:
https://www.websleuths.com/forums/t...y-adoptive-caregivers-san-diego.644196/page-7
5/23/23 Update: Preliminary exam hearing was rescheduled on 8/29/23 for all. 8/29/23 Update: Preliminary hearings were rescheduled for all on 10/24/23 @ 8:40am.
10/24/23 Update: Next Preliminary Exam Readiness hearing on 1/16/24 @ 8:30am & preliminary exam on 1/30/24 @ 8:40am for all. 1/12/24 Update: A felony bail review hearing will also be on 1/16/24.

 

[Curious Me]

Saw it, but can't find a link to it yet.
Caught the news broadcast about them being in court today. The news didn't have any updates on what actually happened legally today. The news just went over how they tortured Aarabella and her siblings by withholding food, bathroom privileges, and all the beatings dealt out. Said Aarabella died of this continuous abuse, her siblings did not die, but suffered at the hands of this abusive trio. They'll be back in court at end of month, January 30, 2024.

Local News from FOX 5 San Diego

Local news about people and events in San Diego County and Southern California

fox5sandiego.com

​

 

[Curious Me]

Got an email for a ten minute time change.

THE FOLLOWING EVENT(S) HAVE BEEN REMOVED FROM CASE CE414848:
The event "Preliminary Exam" scheduled for Jan 30 2024 8:40AM at the San Diego Superior Court, East County Division, East County Regional Center in department 11 has been Vacated.

THE FOLLOWING EVENT(S) HAVE BEEN ADDED FOR CASE CE414848:
Preliminary Exam Readiness scheduled for Jan 30 2024 8:30AM at the San Diego Superior Court, East County Division, East County Regional Center in Department 2.

New Time and it's the same for the other two defendants:

Defendant Leticia Diane McCormack	Defense Counsel Gregory Garrison
Court No. CE414848	Date 01/30/2024	Time 08:30 AM	Judge
Event Preliminary Exam Readiness
Location San Diego Superior Court, East County Division, East County Regional Center, Dept. 2

 

[Niner]

Thanks @Curious Me !

 

[Niner]

Oh - new info on grandma!!

Grandmother also charged with murder in San Diego child-abuse death case

The mother of a former San Diego megachurch leader “seemed to enjoy” inflicting abuse, according to prosecutors

www.nbcsandiego.com

Jan. 16, 2024
San Diego prosecutors added new charges Tuesday against the adoptive family members accused in the Arabella McCormack child-abuse death case.
[.....]
All three faced three counts each of child abuse and torture. Until Tuesday, however, only Leticia McCormack and her father faced a charge of murder. Now, 71-year-old Adella also faces a murder charge.

Deputy District Attorney Meredith Pro also announced Tuesday that all three will face a new charge of conspiracy to commit child torture. The trio were arraigned on the new charges Tuesday, and all pleaded not guilty.
[.....]
In a previous hearing, prosecutors explained that Adella Tom didn’t face a murder charge because she wasn’t present during the child abuse and torture in the two weeks leading up to Arabella’s death. On Tuesday, however, Pro revealed that Adella Tom stayed in contact with Stanley Tom and Leticia McCormack over text message, helping to coordinate child abuse while she was away.
[,,,,,]
Adella was also previously eligible to bail out of jail on $100,000 bond. However, with the new murder charge, prosecutors asked the judge to remove the possibility of bail entirely. Judge Kathleen Lewis agreed. Now, all three suspects are being held without bail while they await trial.
[.....]
The case also appears headed for another delay. The alternative public defender assigned to Adella is leaving the case, and another public defender will be assigned. A preliminary hearing scheduled for the end of the month was changed to a status hearing, and all future court dates have been put on hold since that new attorney will likely need time to familiarize themselves with the complex case.

 

[Cryptic]

It both amazes and sickens me how often we see this type of thing with kids in foster care/adopted homes etc. Our society is failing children at so many levels.

I think the bad cases may get alot of publicity, where as the success stories do not.

Sadly, I dont think there are any easy answers in regards to providing better support for these children.

I have never been an official foster parent. But, my wife and I have opened our home to a variety of "at risk youth" types in a variety of ways. Three non birth kids have called me "dad" over the years (success stories). But.... we have had to cut ties with youth whom we were getting in over our heads with ("failures").

Anyways....

I think there can be a good faith temptation for official foster parents to continue on with certain children. They may fear "failure". They may fear getting a black mark from the agency. They then get sucked into a battle of wills and control that spirals down into murder.

One possible answer could be state agencies making it clear (and making internal practice changes if needed):

- If you as a foster parent get in "over your head" with a child or children, there is absolutely no shame what so ever in returning the child(ren) to the foster care system. You are not a failure.

- Yes, you will remain eligible for other children. There will not be an unofficial "black mark" against you. We will place other children with you- soon.

 

[Cryptic]

These cases are frustrating. There’s obviously a pattern we see her on WS of children being fostered/adopted, homeschooled, and abused/tortured/murdered.

Do you have any details on the pattern regarding homeschooled children? My guess is that home schooled children are no more, and no less likely to be abused than non homeschooled children are.