A disturbing federal lawsuit claims that child welfare officials in California failed systematically, which allegedly contributed to the torture and death of 8-year-old Genesis Mata. The suit suggests that police in Kern County ignored multiple warnings that could have potentially saved her life.
This complaint, which was initially highlighted by KGET in Bakersfield, asserts that Kern County Child Protective Services (CPS) repeatedly overlooked signs of abuse involving Genesis and her siblings. Her siblings’ lawsuit contends that these failures directly resulted in Genesis’ tragic death in August 2025, reflecting a more extensive issue with child welfare in the area.
The lawsuit emphasizes the ongoing failures, stating, “Same system. Same failures. More children died.”
Filed by a Los Angeles law firm, the lawsuit names Kern County Human Services Director Lito Morillo, about twenty social workers, their supervisors, CPS investigators, and the La Quinta Inn where Genesis was found dead.
Born in November 2016, Genesis was described by family members as a delightful and loving girl with a fascination for shiny things. According to the lawsuit, her biological mother placed Genesis and her younger brother with relatives in 2018, prior to custody being granted to her father, Rey Mata Jr., and stepmother, Graciela Bustamonte.
Genesis’ body was discovered on August 2, 2025, in a bathtub in a locked bathroom at a La Quinta Inn in Bakersfield. Prosecutors allege she endured horrific abuse in the days leading up to her death. Court records state that Rey Mata Jr. and Graciela Bustamonte forced her to heat water in the microwave and then poured it over her, resulting in severe burns. They also allegedly beat her with an electrical cord, crushed her finger in a door frame, and knocked her unconscious by hitting her in the stomach.
The complaint indicates that hotel guests reported hearing screams but that hotel staff did not call the police.
CPS is said to have received at least 20 reports of abuse involving Genesis and her siblings yet failed to take any action.
The lawsuit claims, “The Department of Child Protective Services was notified at least 20 times that Genesis and her siblings were being abused.” Reports from schools noted the children’s absences and visible injuries.
Despite these repeated warnings, CPS allegedly did nothing to remove the children, follow up on abuse allegations, or track down Mata when she went missing, leaving them in what the lawsuit describes as “state-related danger” which ultimately led to Genesis’ death.
Furthermore, the complaint highlights that Genesis’ death is part of a troubling trend in Kern County’s child welfare system. This includes instances such as the still-missing adoptive siblings Classic and Sincere Pettus and the 2024 death of 3-year-old Alejandro Andres Perez Jr., who was killed by his adoptive mother.
The suit also points out chronic issues such as underfunding, understaffing, and inadequate training within CPS. It cites a 2025 grand jury report revealing the agency’s struggle with overwhelming caseloads.
Following Genesis’ death, the Kern County Board of Supervisors approved an independent review of CPS, conducted by the Social Policy Institute at the University of San Diego, which will analyze the department’s operations.
The claims made in the lawsuit have not yet been substantiated in court, and Kern County officials have not made any public statements regarding the allegations presented.
