The white beads speak to me of some serious caring on the part of some woman in the child's life. Perhaps even the mother.
Evidently the mother felt exceedingly trapped and hopeless with no way out and didn't want the child to continue to suffer along with her. Or, perhaps she felt she was losing it and couldn't be depended on to take care of her any longer or to make healthy choices around her any longer.
The beads took a long time. They are an act of caring--evidently a goodbye act of caring.
Does NOT excuse the horrible action but it is one feature of the whole picture.
I thought of that very same thing too. Someone had to have SOME feeling to care for her. That takes WORK, believe me!!