A Hawaii woman was arrested Friday and charged in connection with the Dec. 2023 death of her 11-year-old adoptive daughter.
Sina Pili, 39, has been indicted on charges of manslaughter, endangering the welfare of a minor and persistent nonsupport over the death of Azaeliyah Pili-Ah You, her adoptive daughter.
The girl was found unresponsive and covered with bruises at a Laie home and later pronounced dead at Kahuku Hospital on Dec. 22, 2023.
The medical examiner’s office ruled the girl’s death a homicide from child abuse after she suffered extensive bruising, abrasions, wounds, and bites to her nose and body.
The victim also had fractured ribs, and a dark-colored lung suggesting she suffered from pneumonia.
“Further investigation revealed that on the day that Azaeliyah died, Sina Pili slapped and punched Azaeliyah multiple times for approximately 30 minutes,” Honolulu Police Lt. Deena Thoemmes said.
“Days before her death, Azalea had told her adoptive parents that she was sick. The autopsy did reveal that she tested positive for COVID, influenza A, and that she had pneumonia.”
Pili, who was an adjunct instructor at Brigham Young University – Hawaii, had four other adoptive children aged between 12 and 7.
