Cops in California have seized an ordained elder at an evangelical megachurch for beating and starving her adopted 11-year-old daughter to death.
Accused Leticia Diane McCormack, 49, was arrested at a home in Lucerne Valley on 7th November and remanded in custody.
She has since been charged with one count of first-degree murder, three counts of torture, and three counts of wilful cruelty to a child.
The charges relate to the death of young Arabella McCormack.
The alleged abuse was discovered when police were called out to attend a child in distress at a home in Spring Valley in the early hours of 30th August.
Paramedics took Arabella to hospital, where her condition worsened and she succumbed to her injuries.
Those injuries, said San Diego County Sheriff’s Department, included bruising all over her body and “severe levels of malnourishment”.
Police also arrested Leticia’s parents – Adella and Stanley Tom – in connection with Arabella’s death.
Her adoptive father, meanwhile – US Customs and Border Protection agent Brian McCormack – fatally shot himself in the head in his car when police visited him.
Arabella and her two sisters had been removed from their biological mother’s home in 2017.
They had been fostered and then adopted by the McCormacks two years later, with the adoptive parents subsequently removing the girls from school.
Arabella’s sisters, aged six and seven, have since been handed over to a foster family.
Two of the counts of torture and two of the counts of wilful cruelty to a child refer to crimes allegedly committed by Leticia McCormack against Arabella’s sisters.
McCormack was an ordained elder and ministry leadership programme co-ordinator at Rock Church in San Diego, local media reported.
Rock Church was founded by former NFL player Miles McPherson – who still serves there as a senior pastor – in 2000.
The evangelical megachurch said in a statement: “The Rock no longer has any official relationship with Leticia.
“Her ordination at Rock Church was previously suspended and is in the process of being revoked.”
In a statement obtained by Newsflash, San Diego County Sheriff’s Department said: “San Diego County Sheriff’s Department Homicide Investigators with assistance from the San Diego Regional Fugitive Task Force made the arrests in 32000 block of Sutter Road in the Lucerne Valley area of San Bernardino County on Monday, November 7. The third suspect was arrested near the intersection of Cable Street and Del Monte Avenue in the Ocean Beach area within the City of San Diego.
“Here are the charges the suspects are facing:
“49-year-old Leticia McCormack (DOB 5/27/1973) was booked into the Vista Detention Facility for 187(A)PC – Murder, three counts of 206PC – Torture, three counts of 273A(A)PC – Willful and cruelty to a child.
“70-year-old Adella Tom (DOB 12/24/1951) was booked into the Las Colinas Detention and Reentry Facility for three counts of 206PC – Torture, three counts of 273A(A)PC – Willful and cruelty to a child.
“75-year-old Stanley Tom (DOB 6/6/1947) was booked into the San Diego Central Jail for 187(A)PC – Murder, three counts of 206PC – Torture, three counts of 273A(A)PC – Willful and cruelty to a child.
“Adella and Stanley are Leticia McCormack’s parents.
“The investigation that led to today’s arrests started on August 30 just before 2:00 a.m. Deputies from the Rancho San Diego Sheriff’s Station responded to a call of a child in distress at a home in the 3300 block of Lakeview Drive in Spring Valley.
“The child, Arabella McCormack, was rushed to a hospital. During the investigation, detectives suspected signs of possible child abuse. While in the hospital, Arabella’s health declined and she died.
“The Sheriff’s Homicide Unit responded and assumed responsibility of the investigation. During the investigation into Arabella’s death, deputies contacted her father, Brian McCormack, near the family’s home. He committed suicide in their presence.
“Arabella had a six and seven-year-old sisters. They are currently living with a foster family.”
