Latest news with #Laie
Yahoo
14-03-2025
- Yahoo
Kahuku woman pleads not guilty in adopted daughter's death
KEVIN FUJII / POOL PHOTO Sina Pili, 39, is arraigned in Circuit Court Thursday, represented by Deputy Public Defender Samson Shigetomi. KEVIN FUJII / POOL PHOTO Sina Pili, 39, is arraigned in Circuit Court Thursday, represented by Deputy Public Defender Samson Shigetomi. Sina Pili, who holds a master's degree in social work, pleaded not guilty Thursday to manslaughter and related charges in the 2023 abuse and torture death of her 11-year-old adopted daughter, who had learning disabilities. The 39-year-old Laie woman was arraigned Thursday on charges of manslaughter, endangering the welfare of a minor and persistent nonsupport with regard to Azaeliyah Pili-Ah You, whom she adopted two months prior to the child's death on Dec. 22, 2023. While waiting for her arraignment, Pili, dressed in a white paper jumpsuit, smiled wistfully at her tearful mother, who sat in the courtroom gallery along with numerous other family members. Circuit Judge Ronald Johnson confirmed Pili, in custody at the Oahu Community Correctional Center, be held without bail. Deputy Prosecutor Julia Kaneshiro asked the judge to confirm no bail due to 'the seriousness of the charge of potential tampering with minor witnesses.' Johnson agreed and said there is a serious risk that Pili poses a danger to others, including children. Don 't miss out on what 's happening ! Stay in touch with breaking news, as it happens, conveniently in your email inbox. It 's FREE ! Email 28141 Sign Up By clicking to sign up, you agree to Star-Advertiser 's and Google 's and. This form is protected by reCAPTCHA. 'There are other children involved, ' he said. Even if they had been removed from the home, he said, Pili may be able to gain access to the children through other means. He said the court is concerned there may be obstruction or intent to obstruct justice by intimidating prospective witnesses who may have lived in the home at the time. Deputy Public Defender Samson Shigetomi said he would reserve argument for bail. The judge had issued a no-contact order March 7 that prohibits Pili from contacting three children born between 2014 and 2016. Four children, ages 12, 9, 8 and 7, under Pili and her husband's care, were placed in protective custody by Child Welfare Services. Pili's husband is under police investigation but has not been arrested. Pili's trial is scheduled for May 12 before Judge Rowena Somerville. Pili's mother and other family members declined comment after the arraignment. Pili-Ah You was in the custody of another family two months before she was adopted. Pili, a behavioral health specialist and senior class adviser at Kahuku High and Intermediate School, was arrested March 7 on campus. She was placed on leave March 7 pending investigation. It appears from a previously posted Brigham Young University Hawaii directory that Pili was also a faculty member in education and social work. However, BYU Hawaii did not return a call to the Honolulu Star-Advertiser for confirmation, as the link to the directory showing Pili's name is no longer available. Pili earned a master's degree in social work Aug. 14, 2010, from the University of Hawaii. As foster parents and parents who adopt children in foster care, Pili and her husband received payments ranging from $649 to $776 per child depending on age, and up to an additional $570 a month for each child with special needs. The 11-year-old was found with multiple injuries from child abuse, police said. Police said that on the day the girl died, Pili slapped and punched the girl multiple times over a period of 30 minutes at their Laie home. Responding officers saw Pili-Ah You's father giving her lifesaving care in the home, before firefighters attempted to resuscitate her, police said. She was pronounced dead at the Kahuku Medical Center. Pili-Ah You had extensive and deep bruising, multiple abrasions to her face, head, neck, chest, back, arms, hands and legs. She also had apparent bite wounds and internal injuries to her neck likely from being choked, broken ribs and bleeding to the scalp and evidence of pneumonia in her left lung, police said. Her body tested positive for pneumonia, flu and COVID-19.
Yahoo
14-03-2025
- Yahoo
Kahuku woman pleads not guilty in adopted daughter's death
KEVIN FUJII / POOL PHOTO Sina Pili, 39, is arraigned in Circuit Court Thursday, represented by Deputy Public Defender Samson Shigetomi. KEVIN FUJII / POOL PHOTO Sina Pili, 39, is arraigned in Circuit Court Thursday, represented by Deputy Public Defender Samson Shigetomi. Sina Pili, who holds a master's degree in social work, pleaded not guilty Thursday to manslaughter and related charges in the 2023 abuse and torture death of her 11-year-old adopted daughter, who had learning disabilities. The 39-year-old Laie woman was arraigned Thursday on charges of manslaughter, endangering the welfare of a minor and persistent nonsupport with regard to Azaeliyah Pili-Ah You, whom she adopted two months prior to the child's death on Dec. 22, 2023. While waiting for her arraignment, Pili, dressed in a white paper jumpsuit, smiled wistfully at her tearful mother, who sat in the courtroom gallery along with numerous other family members. Circuit Judge Ronald Johnson confirmed Pili, in custody at the Oahu Community Correctional Center, be held without bail. Deputy Prosecutor Julia Kaneshiro asked the judge to confirm no bail due to 'the seriousness of the charge of potential tampering with minor witnesses.' Johnson agreed and said there is a serious risk that Pili poses a danger to others, including children. Don 't miss out on what 's happening ! Stay in touch with breaking news, as it happens, conveniently in your email inbox. It 's FREE ! Email 28141 Sign Up By clicking to sign up, you agree to Star-Advertiser 's and Google 's and. This form is protected by reCAPTCHA. 'There are other children involved, ' he said. Even if they had been removed from the home, he said, Pili may be able to gain access to the children through other means. He said the court is concerned there may be obstruction or intent to obstruct justice by intimidating prospective witnesses who may have lived in the home at the time. Deputy Public Defender Samson Shigetomi said he would reserve argument for bail. The judge had issued a no-contact order March 7 that prohibits Pili from contacting three children born between 2014 and 2016. Four children, ages 12, 9, 8 and 7, under Pili and her husband's care, were placed in protective custody by Child Welfare Services. Pili's husband is under police investigation but has not been arrested. Pili's trial is scheduled for May 12 before Judge Rowena Somerville. Pili's mother and other family members declined comment after the arraignment. Pili-Ah You was in the custody of another family two months before she was adopted. Pili, a behavioral health specialist and senior class adviser at Kahuku High and Intermediate School, was arrested March 7 on campus. She was placed on leave March 7 pending investigation. It appears from a previously posted Brigham Young University Hawaii directory that Pili was also a faculty member in education and social work. However, BYU Hawaii did not return a call to the Honolulu Star-Advertiser for confirmation, as the link to the directory showing Pili's name is no longer available. Pili earned a master's degree in social work Aug. 14, 2010, from the University of Hawaii. As foster parents and parents who adopt children in foster care, Pili and her husband received payments ranging from $649 to $776 per child depending on age, and up to an additional $570 a month for each child with special needs. The 11-year-old was found with multiple injuries from child abuse, police said. Police said that on the day the girl died, Pili slapped and punched the girl multiple times over a period of 30 minutes at their Laie home. Responding officers saw Pili-Ah You's father giving her lifesaving care in the home, before firefighters attempted to resuscitate her, police said. She was pronounced dead at the Kahuku Medical Center. Pili-Ah You had extensive and deep bruising, multiple abrasions to her face, head, neck, chest, back, arms, hands and legs. She also had apparent bite wounds and internal injuries to her neck likely from being choked, broken ribs and bleeding to the scalp and evidence of pneumonia in her left lung, police said. Her body tested positive for pneumonia, flu and COVID-19.
Yahoo
11-03-2025
- Yahoo
Death of Laie girl, 11, included in 2024 state child abuse report
COURTESY PHOTO Adoptive mother Sina Pumehana Pili, 39, is seen in this mugshot. COURTESY PHOTO Adoptive mother Sina Pumehana Pili, 39, is seen in this mugshot. The torture and killing of an 11-year-old Laie girl with learning disabilities, allegedly at the hands of her adoptive mother, was flagged by the state Department of Human Services in its 2024 Child Fatality Report. The state report does not name Azaeliyah Pili-Ah You, but multiple sources told the Honolulu Star-Advertiser that the girl, who was adopted two months before her death on Dec. 22, 2023, was one of the five child fatalities determined to be due to child maltreatment, according to the report covering the states 2024 fiscal year. The girl was in the custody of another family two months before she was adopted and allegedly beaten, neglected and killed by Sina Pumehana Pili, 39, a behavioral health specialist and senior class adviser at Kahuku High and Intermediate School. Pili was arrested on campus Friday and charged with manslaughter, endangering the welfare of a minor and persistent nonsupport. Every child deserves to be safe, and protecting the well-being of children is at the core of everything we do at Child Welfare Services. We are heartbroken over the tragic loss of this child and join the community in mourning, read a statement to the Honolulu Star-Advertiser from the DHS Child Welfare Services Branch. CWS works with its law enforcement partners and respects the need for confidentiality as the investigation in the case continues. Please know that CWS is fully committed to protecting children and taking appropriate action when concerns arise. Keeping children safe is a shared responsibility, and we encourage everyone to report any suspected abuse or neglect. Honolulu police said Pili-Ah You had multiple injuries from child abuse, including deep bruising all over her body, bite marks, two broken ribs, a scalp hemorrhage and evidence of strangulation, and tested positive for COVID-19, flu and pneumonia. The Child Fatality Report noted confirmed physical abuse and that the 11-year-olds death was an intrafamilial harm case. Don 't miss out on what 's happening ! Stay in touch with breaking news, as it happens, conveniently in your email inbox. It 's FREE ! Email 28141 Sign Up By clicking to sign up, you agree to Star-Advertiser 's and Google 's and. This form is protected by reCAPTCHA. Pili-Ah You was found unresponsive at home with suspicious injuries consistent with non-accidental trauma, and the states Child Welfare Services Branch had no prior reports of suspected abuse, the report said. The adoptive family did not receive any services from the state in the two months they had the girl because there were no prior reports for caretakers. Four other children in Pili and her husbands care, ages 12, 9, 8, 7, have been placed in protective custody by CWS. Pilis husband has not been arrested, but is under investigation by Honolulu Police Department detectives. The state Department of Education said that following her arrest Friday, Pili was placed on leave pending investigation, effective March 7, which is unpaid for the first 30 days. Kahuku High and Intermediate School Principal Donna Lindsey sent a note to parents Friday letting them know that the school administration is aware of an ongoing law enforcement investigation involving a non-classroom employee. While we understand that this news may be concerning, we want to emphasize that the alleged incident does not involve our school or students. Please be assured that the Hawaii State Department of Education follows strict policies, including comprehensive background checks for all applicants prior to employment, wrote Lindsey in her message, obtained by the Star-Advertiser. We understand that these situations can raise questions and concerns. However, we are unable to discuss any confidential personnel matters, said Lindsey, who urged parents trying to help their child through the moment to call school officials. Like many other parents who adopt children in foster care, Pili and her husband received money every month from the state to help pay expenses for the children they are supposed to protect and nurture. DHS officials are barred by federal law from disclosing any information about the adoption and custody history of Pili-Ah Yous four siblings. Payments to foster parents are based on the childs age, and the rate of pay is the same for adoption assistance or guardianship support : $649 monthly for children up to age 5, $742 monthly for children age 6 to 11 and $776 monthly for children age 12 and older. If a child has special needs, due to a physical, mental, emotional, or behavioral problem, additional funds to support the care of the child are available to request, according to DHS. This additional difficulty of care stipend of up to $570 a month is determined on a case-by-case basis by a team that includes a DHS social worker and treating medical professional, depending on the childs needs and the additional time the caregiver spends to meet the childs needs. REPORT CHILD ABUSE Available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.—Child abuse and neglect : Call 808-832-5300 on Oahu or toll-free 888-380-3088 on Hawaii island, Maui, Molokai, Lanai and Kauai.—Child trafficking : Call 808-832-1999 on Oahu or toll-free 888-398-1188 on Hawaii island, Maui, Molokai, Lanai and Kauai.
