Adella Tom: Adoptive grandmother also charged with other family members in death of Arabella McCormack

If you or someone you know may be the victim of child abuse, please contact the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-4-A-Child (1-800-422-4453) or contact their live chat services.

SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA: Prosecutors in San Diego filed additional charges on Tuesday, January 16, against the adoptive family members implicated in the child abuse death of Arabella McCormack.

In August 2022, the 11-year-old girl was taken to the hospital due to severe malnourishment. The doctors failed to save her.

Prosecutors claim that Arabella and her two younger sisters were physically abused by her adoptive mother Leticia McCormack, her adoptive grandmother Adella Tom, and her adoptive grandfather Stanley Tom using paddles and sticks.

They were also denied food and water, kept in their rooms, denied access to restrooms, and made to perform strenuous exercises.

Three charged with murder and conspiring to torture children

Each of the three was charged with three counts of torture and child abuse. But up until Tuesday, Leticia McCormack and her father were the only ones accused of murder. Adella, 71, is now accused of murder as well.

Additionally, on Tuesday, Deputy District Attorney Meredith Pro declared that all three would be charged with an additional count of conspiring to torture children.

On Tuesday, the three were arraigned on the new charges, and they all entered not guilty pleas.

Prosecutors stated in a prior hearing that Adella Tom was not charged with murder since she was not present for the two weeks prior to Arabella's death when the child was being abused and tortured.

Pro, however, disclosed on Tuesday that Adella Tom coordinated child abuse while she was away by staying in text message contact with Stanley Tom and Leticia McCormack.

In one instance that was mentioned, which happened five days prior to Arabella's passing, Adella reportedly found out while Arabella was lying in bed that she had a bloody nose.

Adella allegedly said, "He should just let her lay there and bleed because Arabella just wanted attention," according to Pro.

Pro also disclosed audio evidence, claiming to have captured Adella and Stanley pressuring Arabella to work out. It demonstrated Adella's attitude and callousness toward the 11-year-old, according to the prosecutor.

Arabella McCormack had at least 15 fractures

According to Pro, "Arabella can be heard crying in the video while Mrs Tom mocks her — the fact that she doesn’t get to eat food or get food until she does her exercises."

Arabella was underweight at age five, weighing only 48 pounds at the time of her death, according to the prosecution. According to Pro, Arabella had at least 15 different bone fractures and was covered in bruises.

The two younger sisters of Arabella made it through, but they spent three weeks in the hospital. They are currently under a new foster family's supervision.

Adella had previously been eligible for a $100,000 bond to be released from jail. Prosecutors, however, requested that the judge completely eliminate the possibility of bail in light of the new murder charge, according to 7 San Diego.

Judge Kathleen Lewis concurred. As they await trial, all three suspects are currently being held without access to bail. The adoptive father, Brian McCormack, is one person who is not charged.

Only hours after Arabella's death, he died by suicide outside the family's Spring Valley house. If he were still alive, prosecutors claim he would have been charged for his involvement in the crimes.

Leticia McCormack served as the Rock Church's administrator and former elder. Since 2015, her father and mother have both volunteered for the San Diego Police Department.

It looks like there will be another delay in this case. Adella's alternative public defender is stepping down from the case, and a new public defender will take over.

All upcoming court dates have been postponed as the new attorney will probably need time to become acquainted with the intricate case.

A preliminary hearing that was originally set for the end of the month has been rescheduled to a status hearing.