Babysitter Testifies: Sadia's a Violent Child Abuser, 'Every Child in the House is Afraid of Her'

From late 1995 to mid 1997 Doris Nava Arellano was employed as  a babysitter for Sadia Ali-Loeliger. Fatima Loeliger, age 7, lived with her mother Sadia, her 2 year-old sister Fatuma, and Sara, her 15 year-old cousin in Porterville, California. After Sadia physically attacked Arellano, the babysitter escaped and revealed Sadia's abuse of her children to authorities. Below are parts of her affidavit, dated May 2, 1997. (Tulare County Case Number 93-159947). To read it in full, click here. Sadia and her allies claim that Sadia never had a chance to cross-examine Arellano. This is false--click here for details and documentation.

"Every child in the house is afraid of her"

"The Ali-Loeliger home is not a happy or healthy home for the children. Ms. Ali-Loeliger [Sadia] constantly yells and screams at all three of the children and has, in my presence, physically abused Sara. Sara actually has scars on the back of her legs and on the left side of her head from Ms. Ali-Loeliger's attacks on her. Ms. Ali-Loeliger most often uses a plastic covered wire to hit Sara but she will also pick up anything near her to hit Sara if she is angry enough....Ms. Ali-Loeliger not only physically abuses Sara but also emotionally abuses her, calling her "stupid," "fat," "an ignorant bitch," etc....every child in the house is afraid of her...she is verbally abusive to all three of the children and she is emotionally abusive as well..."

"Ms. Ali-Loeliger [Sadia] beat Sara severely"

"..not only does Ms. Ali-Loeliger [Sadia] drink too much, she has some sort of nervous or mental problem which does not allow her to remain calm. The smallest thing makes her extremely angry, resulting in her screaming and yelling at everyone around and often physical abuse of Sara. On March 31, 1997 Sara was told not to use the telephone. Sara used the telephone and was caught. Ms. Ali-Loeliger beat Sara severely. At the time, I intervened to stop the beating and by doing so angered Ms. Ali-Loeliger."

"Ms. Ali-Loeliger [Sadia] physically attacked me"

"Just recently the baby was in the hospital in Lindsey for some type of virus. Ms. Ali-Loeliger [Sadia] told me that I had to spend the night at the hospital with the child. I told her that I could not do so as I have a second job that I had to go to. Ms. Ali-Loeliger physically attacked me after I told her I could not stay and told me 'if you want trouble, you'll get trouble.'"

"I now understand that there is nothing that I can do to protect the children."

"Due to Ms. Ali-Loeliger's [Sadia] attack on me at the hospital, I am afraid to go back into the house. I have quit my job...I previously thought that by staying in the household that I could protect the children from at least some of Ms. Ali-Loeliger's anger. I now understand that there is nothing that I can do to protect the children. I now feel that I must protect myself. I am afraid for the children and I am afraid for my life. I hope that the court can do something to protect the children."

"I declare under penalty of perjury under the laws of the state of California that the foregoing is true and correct dated this 2nd of May, 1997."