WAHIAWA, Hawaii – The tragic case of 10-year-old Geanna Bradley has once again brought to light the failure of those responsible for protecting a child. Shockingly, adults who were supposed to care for her are accused of restraining her with duct tape, confining her to a tiny space, starving her, beating her, and ultimately killing her, according to Honolulu police.
Geanna’s legal guardians, Thomas and Brandy Blas, along with Brandy Blas’ mother, were arrested and charged with her murder after she was found dead at her home in Wahiawa on January 18. The circumstances surrounding her placement and oversight during her time with the Blas family have raised serious questions about the involvement of the state’s Child Welfare Services (CWS) in her case.
There are striking similarities between Geanna’s case and that of Ariel Sellers, another young victim of recent child abuse in Hawaii. Ariel, just 6 years old, was allegedly murdered by her parents, Isaac and Lehua Kalua, in 2022. The fact that both cases could involve failings by the government in overseeing the welfare of these children demands answers from public officials.
In Ariel’s case, it was revealed that CWS had placed her with the Kaluas as a foster child before a Family Court judge approved her adoption. However, questions about CWS’ actions in Geanna’s case remained unanswered, despite evidence suggesting that she, too, may have been in the child welfare system before living with the Blases.
The Blases had been Geanna’s legal guardians since 2018 and were receiving monthly payments from the state for her care. It is apparent that the state’s involvement in her placement and oversight raises issues about the monitoring of her well-being during her time with the Blas family.
In addition to the tragic circumstances of her death, the fact that Geanna had been removed from school, home-schooled, and allegedly diagnosed with serious mental health conditions at a young age raises further concerns about her care and oversight by state authorities.
The failures in the oversight and protection of Geanna and Ariel are a distressing reminder of the importance of ensuring the safety and well-being of children in the child welfare system. The lack of transparency from CWS regarding its actions in these cases has only added to the public’s outrage and demands for accountability.
The Department of Human Services, the parent agency of CWS, must address the serious questions surrounding its role in these cases. Without open and transparent communication, the public’s trust in the ability of these state agencies to protect vulnerable children will continue to erode.