California megachurch elder and her parents charged with murder, torture of adopted 11-year-old daughter

By Minyvonne Burke

An ordained elder at a California megachurch was arrested along with her parents in connection with the death of her 11-year-old adopted daughter.

Leticia McCormack, 49, was arrested Monday on a charge of murder, three counts of torture and three counts of willful cruelty to a child in the death of Arabella McCormack, the San Diego County Sheriff's Department said in a news release Tuesday.

Leticia McCormack's father, Stanley Tom, 75, was arrested on the same charges. Her mother, Adella Tom, 70, was charged only with torture and willful cruelty to a child.

Authorities began their investigation Aug. 30 after deputies were called to a home in Spring Valley for a report of a child in distress. Arabella was found at the home and rushed to the hospital, where she died.

Detectives said she had "signs of possible child abuse." A sheriff's spokesperson said she "appeared to be very undernourished."

A medical examiner has not said how she died.

Shortly after Arabella died, her father, Brian McCormack, a U.S. Customs and Border Protection agent, died by suicide in front of deputies who made contact with him near the family's home, the sheriff's department said.

NBC San Diego reported that Arabella and her two younger sisters moved in with the McCormacks around 2017. The couple adopted all three girls, deputies said.

The other children were placed in foster care after Arabella's death, the news release says.

Leticia McCormack was an ordained elder at The Rock Church, an evangelical megachurch in San Diego. A church spokesperson said Thursday that she was not on staff and that she operated in a volunteer capacity to help with various ministry tasks. Volunteers are not responsible for church operations and governance and "do not have any leadership or other authority," the spokesperson said.

Her ordination at the church was suspended and later revoked.

"We have received notice that Leticia and her parents have been arrested as a result of the Sheriff’s Department investigation. We continue to grieve for Arabella and her sisters. We are so sorry that their family and friends are experiencing this unimaginable loss and pain," the church said. "The legal process will run its course and we hope justice for Arabella and her sisters will be served. We are praying that God’s love and grace will bring comfort and healing."

McCormack's attorney declined to comment. Lawyers for her parents could not immediately be reached for comment.

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