Wahiawa, Hawaii – The tragic and horrifying case of 10-year-old Geanna Bradley, who was found dead in her Wahiawa home, has shaken the community. Honolulu police have arrested her legal guardians, Thomas and Brandy Blas, along with Brandy Blas’ mother, on charges of second-degree murder, kidnapping, and unlawful imprisonment. This chilling case raises questions about the extent of the state’s involvement in placing and overseeing the child welfare of Geanna.
A key question that demands answers from public officials is whether the government was involved in placing and overseeing Geanna in the home that ultimately proved fatal. There are striking similarities between Geanna’s case and the previous shocking child abuse case of Ariel Sellers in Waimanalo. Ariel, who was 6 years old, was also a victim of abuse that resulted in her death in 2022.
The state’s Child Welfare Services played a role in placing Ariel with her adoptive parents, Isaac and Lehua Kalua. Similarly, Geanna had been living with the Blases for two years before they became her legal guardians. It is possible that the state or one of its contractors approved the Blases as foster parents and then failed to properly monitor the girl while she was in their care.
The Department of Human Services, the parent agency of CWS, stated that it received no reports of abuse after the Blases became Geanna’s legal guardian. However, the circumstances surrounding both Geanna and Ariel’s cases raise questions about the effectiveness of the state’s oversight and the need for more transparency from Child Welfare Services.
Furthermore, the disturbing case of Geanna Bradley underscores the need for greater scrutiny and accountability in the child welfare system, as well as the importance of ensuring the safety and well-being of vulnerable children. The public and state officials must demand greater transparency and action from the relevant authorities to prevent similar tragedies in the future.
The failure of the state’s oversight in these cases highlights the need for thorough investigations and reforms to ensure that children under the care of child welfare services are properly monitored and protected. Without substantial changes and increased transparency, the state risks failing in its duty to safeguard the most vulnerable members of society.