San Diego Prosecutors Seek Death Penalty in Adopted Daughter’s Death
In San Diego, prosecutors are seeking the death penalty for Leticia McCormack, an adoptive mother accused of torturing and starving her 11-year-old adopted daughter, Arabella McCormack, to death. The child's adoptive grandparents, Stanley and Adella Tom, are also charged and…
San Diego, CA, August 12, 2026 —
Prosecutors in San Diego have announced their intention to seek the death penalty for Leticia McCormack, an adoptive mother accused in the death of her 11-year-old adopted daughter, Arabella McCormack. The child is alleged to have died as a result of torture and starvation.
In connection with the same case, the child’s adoptive grandparents, Stanley and Adella Tom, have also been charged. They are facing potential sentences of life in prison without the possibility of parole.
The legal proceedings for the accused have been divided. The trial for Stanley and Adella Tom is scheduled to commence in February 2027. Leticia McCormack’s trial is anticipated to take place approximately one year after her parents’ trial begins.
This case unfolds in California, a state where legal executions have been on hold since 2006. The status of capital punishment in the state remains a significant backdrop to the prosecution’s pursuit of the death penalty. Specific details regarding the timeline of events leading to Arabella McCormack’s death, the nature of the alleged torture and starvation, and the specific charges filed against each individual were not provided in the summary. The court proceedings are ongoing.
Story summarized from the original created by Mike Dorfman and Meredith Royster on www.nbcsandiego.com, see more information here.
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