Hawaii Grandmother Avoids Prison in Death of Malnourished 9-Year-Old Girl

Henrietta Stone received a controversial probation sentence in Hawaii for the starvation death of her 9-year-old granddaughter, leading to widespread community outrage.

Hilo, Hawaii: Grandmother Sentenced to Probation After 9-Year-Old Granddaughter Starves to Death

A Hawaii woman will not serve time in prison for the tragic death of her 9-year-old granddaughter, who weighed just 45 pounds when she died from starvation in 2016. On Thursday, Hilo Circuit Court Judge Henry Nakamoto sentenced 67-year-old Henrietta Stone to 10 years of probation, despite prosecutors' push for the maximum penalty of 20 years behind bars.

The sentencing decision has sparked frustration, and many, including the Hawaii Office of the Prosecuting Attorney, have expressed disappointment.

"There aren't words to describe my disappointment and frustration in the outcome of this case. Shaelynn and our community deserved much better," Prosecuting Attorney Kelden Waltjen said following the hearing. "Her death was caused by the three people who she should have been able to trust the most."

Tragic Death and Legal Proceedings

Stone pleaded no contest to manslaughter in February 2024, avoiding a second-degree murder charge. Shaelynn's parents, Kevin Lehano and Tiffany K. Stone, also pleaded guilty to manslaughter and received the same 10-year probation sentence. However, at the time of Shaelynn's death, it was her grandmother who had legal guardianship.

Prosecutors stressed that multiple individuals—including Shaelynn's former teachers and the emergency responders who tried to save her—submitted victim impact statements urging the court to impose a prison sentence. A pre-sentencing report also recommended the maximum penalty.

"Manslaughter carries a penalty of either a twenty-year prison term or ten years probation and up to two years in jail," the prosecutor's office noted. "Prosecutors argued for the maximum twenty-year prison penalty."

After her initial arrest in 2016, Stone was jailed until July 2024, when she was released on a $100,000 bond.

Horrific Details of Shaelynn's Final Days

On June 28, 2016, Hawaii police and firefighters responded to an emergency call at Stone's home on Kino'ole Street in Hilo. When they arrived, they found an unconscious and severely malnourished young girl lying on the floor. Shaelynn was rushed to Hilo Medical Center, but despite efforts to save her, she passed away just hours later.

Authorities later discovered that Stone had pulled Shaelynn out of school months before her death, claiming she would homeschool her. However, rather than providing an education, Stone reportedly installed alarms on the refrigerator doors to prevent Shaelynn from accessing food. At the time of her death, Shaelynn weighed the same as she had at just four years old.

Her official cause of death was listed as malnutrition, with contributing factors including acute pneumonia and a severe kidney infection (acute pyelonephritis).

Community Reaction and Calls for Justice

The sentencing has left many questioning the justice system, particularly in cases involving child abuse and neglect. Advocates for children's rights argue that probation is not enough for the severe mistreatment and death of a vulnerable child.

Despite this outcome, prosecutors remain committed to fighting for victims of abuse.

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