The story of Isabella Kalua, a 6-year-old girl from Waimanalo, Hawaii, began as a missing person case but soon evolved into a heart-wrenching homicide investigation. In September 2021, her adoptive parents, Isaac and Lehua Kalua, reported her missing, telling police they had last seen her asleep in her room the previous night. This report launched an extensive eight-day search, but tragically, no sign of Isabella was found.
The initial report claimed Isabella, who was born Ariel Sellers, had a history of wandering off at night. However, what started as a search for a missing child soon shifted focus to the very people who were meant to protect her, as inconsistencies in their story began to emerge.
The investigation took a dark turn when authorities announced they believed Isabella had been killed a month before she was even reported missing. Surveillance footage recovered from the family's home showed the last image of Isabella was on August 18, 2021. This revelation led to the arrest of Isaac and Lehua Kalua on suspicion of second-degree murder. Court documents later revealed disturbing details from an interview with Isabella's older sister, who was also adopted by the Kaluas. She told detectives that Isabella was kept in a dog cage in the bathroom and that she had found her not breathing with duct tape on her mouth and nose. The sister recounted how Lehua Kalua tried to wake Isabella by placing her in a bathtub filled with water, but it was to no avail.
The case against the Kaluas solidified with a grand jury indictment for second-degree murder and other charges, to which they pleaded not guilty. The charges against Lehua Kalua allege she was directly involved in causing the injuries that led to Isabella's death, while Isaac Kalua is charged with murder by omission for failing to help her. Further court filings revealed harrowing testimony from Isabella's sister, who described being forced to help dispose of evidence. Though her remains have never been found, a probate court judge has since declared Isabella legally dead. The case, which exposed a history of alleged abuse within the home, serves as a tragic overview of a child's life cut short and the subsequent search for justice in her name.Last Seen: Sep 12, 2021
