WAHIAWA, Hawaii — In what Honolulu Police Department Chief Joe Logan described as a “horrifying” case of abuse and neglect, Honolulu police arrested three people on Friday in connection with the death of a 10-year-old girl in Wahiawa last month.

The case was initially filed as an unattended death, but a subsequent investigation led police to suspect it was a homicide.

Brandy Blas, 35, and husband Thomas Blas, 40, were arrested on suspicion of second-degree murder; two counts of kidnapping, two counts of first-degree unlawful imprisonment, and first-degree endangering the welfare of a minor. Debra Geron, 67, was arrested on suspicion of second-degree murder; two counts of kidnapping, two counts of first-degree unlawful imprisonment and first degree hindering prosecution.

According to Lt. Deena Thoemmes of HPD’s homicide detail, officers responding to an emergency call to 33 Karsten Drive were informed that the victim, Geanna Bradley, had been found unresponsive in her room, her body cold and stiff, by her Geron, her self-identified grandmother.

Geron and the Brandy Blas, one of the girl’s legal guardians, told police they had last seen Bradley around 7:30 p.m. the previous night when she went to her room after dinner. Geron told police she had unsuccessfully attempted CPR on the girl.

Bradley was pronounced dead at the scene.

Officers at the scene noted Bradley had multiple facial injuries, including scratches around her ears, eyes, forehead, cheeks and lips; bruised eyelids; and scrapes on her chin. According to the officers, part of Bradley’s nose bridge was “missing.”

The injuries drew the attention of homicide investigators, who conducted follow-up interviews with the family.

Bradley was one of six children who lived in the home along with Brandy and Thomas Blas, Geron and Geron’s husband (who was not arrested). Four of the children were the Blases’ biological children. Another 4-year-old boy was identified as an adopted child. Police said the Blases were Bradley’s legal guardians but did not elaborate. She is believed to have been in their custody since the age of 2 or 3.

Thoemmes said Bradley was taken out of school in October 2022.

The suspects told investigators that Bradley had ADHD and might have also been suffering from schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. They said her injuries were the result of daily tantrums in which she threw herself to the ground. They also said she was treated well by the family and was on medication to address her conditions. She also saw a psychologist monthly, the suspects told police.

A board-certified child abuse pediatrician consulted as part of the investigation noted that Bradley’s physical condition at the time of death was consistent with medical neglect, physical neglect and chronic physical abuse, as well as features indicative of fatal starvation. The location and pattern of injuries were deemed likely caused by repeated abusive trauma rather than accidental trauma.

The pediatrician also found that the injury to Bradley’s nasal bridge, which the suspects claimed was caused by a bicycling accident, was “very deep” and along with additional injury to her two front teeth and upper lip, and multiple scars around her mouth and face were indications of trauma significant enough to break teeth.

Perhaps the most damning evidence came from the suspects’ cellphones, which were examined by HPD cybercrime and strategic enforcement detectives.

Thoemmes said investigators retrieved “disturbing” images and videos depicting abusive situations.

“These included disturbing images of a child who appears to be Geanna enclosed in a small area and bound with duct tape,” she said. “The child’s arms are taped to her torso and there is duct tape wrapped around her eyes, forehead and over the top of her head. Some images show what looked like injuries to her lower face and shoulders.”

The “small area” was later disclosed to be an enclosed patio.

Videos on the phones captured multiple “violent interactions” between the Blases and the girl as recent as Jan. 16, two days before Bradley’s death.

The Medical Examiner ultimately determined that the cause of death was multiple effects of prolonged child abuse and neglect. Secondary causes were starvation, blunt force injuries due to multiple assaults, prolonged physical restraint and immobilization, pneumonia and medical neglect. The manner of death: homicide.

The death was reclassified a murder early Friday morning and officers arrested the Blases and Geron shortly after.

The investigation into Bradley’s death also turned up evidence of abuse and neglect involving the adopted 4-year-old boy.

Early on, the boy was observed to be very thin and with injuries to both of his arms. HPD notified Child Welfare Services and all five remaining children were removed from the home.

According to Thoemmes, the same child abuse pediatrician that evaluated Bradley’s physical state also determined that the boy’s condition indicated “failure to thrive, very likely due to calorie and psychosocial deprivation, and that he suffered from physical abuse as indicated by multiple bruises and scars consistent with such abuse.”

None of the Blases’ four biological children, ages 3 to 14, showed signs of abuse, Thoemmes said.

Michael Tsai covers local and state politics for Spectrum News Hawaii. He can be reached at michael.tsai@charter.com.