San Diego, California – The case of the tragic death of 11-year-old Arabella McCormack has taken a new turn as San Diego prosecutors have filed additional charges against her adoptive family members. Arabella passed away in August 2022 after being rushed to the hospital due to severe malnutrition, a result of continuous physical abuse and torture by her adoptive mother, grandmother, and grandfather. The trio has now been arraigned on new charges, including murder and conspiracy to commit child torture.
The adoptive mother, Leticia McCormack, her mother Adella Tom, and her father Stanley Tom have all been charged with three counts of child abuse and torture. Previously, only Leticia McCormack and Stanley Tom were facing a murder charge, but the latest development in the case now includes Adella Tom in this charge as well. All three have pleaded not guilty to the new charges.
Deputy District Attorney Meredith Pro revealed that Adella Tom, despite not being physically present during the abuse and torture, was involved in coordinating these acts through text messages with Stanley Tom and Leticia McCormack. Pro also presented evidence of Adella’s callousness, pointing to a recording in which she and Stanley were seen forcing Arabella to exercise while mocking her cries for food and comfort.
Arabella’s two younger sisters, who also suffered abuse, survived and are now in the care of a new foster family. Arabella’s adoptive father, Brian McCormack, tragically took his own life outside their family home hours after Arabella’s death. Prosecutors have stated that Brian McCormack would have also faced charges had he been alive.
The case has faced delays due to changes in legal representation, with a new public defender being assigned to Adella. This has led to a hold on all future court dates to allow the new attorney time to familiarize themselves with the complex case.
This tragic case has shocked the community, with the Rock Church, where Leticia McCormack was a former elder and administrator, expressing their dismay. Both Adella and Stanley Tom have also served as volunteers with the San Diego Police Department since 2015. The disturbing details of Arabella’s suffering have raised important questions about the roles and responsibilities of those involved in her care, and the case is expected to continue to generate significant public interest as it unfolds in court.