Hawaii Children Discovered Living in House of Horrors Were Beaten With Sticks and Paddles, Found' Pulseless With Ashen Skin'

Two Hawaii women who are facing murder charges also subjected their children to horrific abuse, prosecutors allege.

Janae Perez and her girlfriend of four years, Ashleigh Utley, face a variety of charges including second-degree murder, two counts of kidnapping, first-degree attempted assault, multiple counts of endangering the welfare of a minor, persistent non-support and hindering prosecution in the first degree, Hawaii News Now reported.

The women are accused of murdering 3-year-old Sarai Perez Rivera, and subjecting three surviving siblings to various forms of abuse, the TV station reported. Sarai died in June 2024 from dehydration and starvation.

When officers arrived at the home, they found Sarai "malnourished and pulseless with ashen skin and bruises to her legs, hips, arms, face, back and head," Honolulu Police Lt. Deena Thoemmes said in a press conference last week.

"Janae and Ashley would primarily hit the children with their hands, sticks, paddles, slippers and belts to all parts of their body," Thoemmes said in the press conference according to KITV. "There was also disturbing video of Sarai crying and in severe discomfort and distress saying that she had to use the bathroom and that she was thirsty. In response, Janae repeatedly yelled and swore at her."

According to court documents, Sarai's six-year-old brother told police that the little girl was making "weird" and "suffering" noises on the day she died. The boy describes how his mother was making dinner, and Sarai was lying on the ground because she was so sick.

A five-year-old brother told police, according to court documents, that his sister "went up up" to see Jesus. The boy asked the police if Jesus had food because his mother told him that Jesus did not have food.