Autopsy report released for boy who died in foster care

KAILUA-KONA — Three-year-old Fabian Garett-Garcia’s autopsy report has been released, but the toddler’s parents are still left with questions seven months after the boy’s untimely death while in foster care.

The pathologist’s report, which the Hawaii Police Department said it received Feb. 22, determined Garett-Garcia’s cause of death to be “blunt force trauma to the head,” according to a media release. The manner of death was listed as “undetermined.”

Police said the case remains classified as a coroner’s inquest and detectives are continuing to investigate the incident.

“Since Fabian’s death, we have lived every day in a parent’s worst nightmare. Not only have we had to process the heart-shattering loss of our baby boy but also deal with the many unanswered questions about how he died. One of our biggest and most challenging struggles has been answering questions from Fabian’s younger siblings about why Fabian is no longer with us,” reads a statement by the toddler’s parents, Sherri-Ann Garett and Juben Garcia, released by their attorney, Jeffrey Foster. “We are doing our best to manage the grief through our faith in God and the support of our ohana, friends and community.”

Foster said in the statement that the family has requested a copy of the report but was told it could not be released because the investigation is ongoing.

“We are thankful to HPD for their efforts with the investigation. We are hopeful that such efforts will result in a successful criminal prosecution of any and all persons responsible for Fabian’s death,” the statement reads.

Police and fire rescue personnel responded at 7:18 p.m. July 25, 2017, to a home on Hoohoa Street to a report of an unresponsive toddler, later identified as Garett-Garcia. Police have said the child was in a foster care home.

Life-saving measures were performed and the child was transported by medics to North Hawaii Community Hospital, however, he was pronounced dead shortly after reaching the facility, police said. The autopsy was performed July 27, 2017.

Police Maj. Robert Wagner said shortly after the incident that the foster parents gave police an indication of what happened to the toddler throughout the day. However, police were not releasing details of anyone’s statements because of the ongoing investigation.

Keopu Reelitz, Department of Human Services spokeswoman, said Friday she could neither confirm nor deny any family’s involvement with Child Welfare Services.

Garett-Garcia’s family is asking anyone with information about Fabian’s death to contact police Detective Carrie Akina at 326-4646, ext. 277, or carrie.akina@hawaiicounty.gov. Tips can able be emailed to the family’s attorney at justice4fabian@gmail.com.