GUILTY CA - Anthony Avalos, 10, possibly died after abuse by mother, Lancaster, 20 June 2018 *arrests*

[Allabouttrial]

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Posted 11th Feb.

New video reveals how Anthony Ávalos's mother was being investigated for years for alleged child abuse​

This video is part of the evidence that the prosecution presented against the woman and her boyfriend, Kareem Ernesto Leiva, in the trial they are facing for the torture and murder of the minor.

The video is in Spanish except the parts where Leiva and Anthony's brother speak.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1624831175498891264

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Option to translate on the site.

Nuevo video revela cómo desde hace años se investigaba a la madre de Anthony Ávalos por presunto abuso infantil

Las imágenes, que datan de abril de 2016, muestran cómo un oficial del condado de Los Ángeles llegó hasta la casa en Lancaster donde vivía Heather Maxine Barrón, madre de Anthony Ávalos, a investigar una denuncia de abuso infantil. Este video es parte de la evidencia que la fiscalía presentó en...

www.univision.com

 

[Allabouttrial]

Can't find anything from trial for Monday.

 

[mothwings]

So no live stream? That sucks! Were cameras not allowed?

 

[Niner]

Can't find anything from trial for Monday.

The court site shows for Feb. 10th - Judicial Action
and no more trial dates since today. Wondering if both the defense teams rested their case on Friday - ?? - And the Judge is now going over his decision - referring to the to "Judicial Action" mentioned on Feb. 10th.

And I have found NO current articles as of this morning....

And thanks for posting all those articles!

 

[Niner]

So - I will just post this as an update... so I can shorten it up a bit.

Friday, February 10th:
*Bench Trial continues (Day 11) for both (@ 8:30am PT) h– CA – Anthony Avalos (10) (June 20, 2018, Lancaster; died 6/21/18) – *Heather Maxine Barrón (29/now 33) (“mom”) arrested & charged (6/29/18), arraigned (7/2/18), indicted (10/31/18) & recharged & indicted (2/27/19) with 1st degree capital murder, torture (special circumstance allegation of murder involving the infliction of torture) & 2 counts of child endangerment resulting in death. Plead not guilty. Held on $2M bond. DA will not seek DP. Possible sentence 22 yrs to life.
*Kareem Ernesto Leiva (32/now 36) (BF) arrested (6/27/18), charged (6/29/18), arraigned (7/2/18), indicted (10/31/18) & recharged & indicted (2/27/19) with 1st degree capital murder, torture (special circumstance allegation of murder involving the infliction of torture) & 2 counts of child endangerment resulting in death. Plead not guilty. Held on $2M bond. DA will not seek DP. Maximum sentence 32 yrs to life.
Bench Trial began on 1/25/23. Presiding Superior Court Judge Sam Ohta. Court is dark on Fridays.
Court info from 8/6/18 thru 1/19/23 & Trial Day 1-7 (1/25 to 2/7/23) reference post #192 here:
https://www.websleuths.com/forums/t...-lancaster-20-june-2018-arrest.378137/page-10
2/8/23 Wednesday, Bench Trial Day 9: State witnesses: Gia Greaux, who was a vice principal at the time at Lincoln Elementary School in Lancaster. Jury heard an audio-recorded call to the child abuse hotline by Greaux. Harmony Bell, a teacher at El Dorado Elementary School in Lancaster was Anthony's 4th grade teacher. Sofia P., Anthony's friend. Mildred Blue, testified that she called the child abuse hotline in April 2016. Prosecutors also played two calls made to a DCFS hotline to report suspected child abuse for Anthony & his siblings.
For more info see post #193 (article) here:
https://www.websleuths.com/forums/t...-lancaster-20-june-2018-arrest.378137/page-10
Trial continues on Thursday, 2/9/23.
2/9/23 Thursday, Bench Trail Day 10: State witness: Priscilla L., daughter of Leiva. Daisy Nava, Priscilla's mother still married to Leiva.
One of Barron's attorneys, Nancy Sperber, opted not to make an opening statement, but called two witnesses (no names listed) in advance of the prosecution resting its case. The prosecution still has more witnesses, including social workers who are expected to testify next week.
For more info see post #194 (article) here:
https://www.websleuths.com/forums/t...-lancaster-20-june-2018-arrest.378137/page-10
2/10/23 Friday, Trial Day 11: Prosecutors showed a new video reveals how Anthony's mother was being investigated for years for alleged child abuse. The images, dating from April 2016, show how a L.A. County officer came to the house in Lancaster where Barrón lived to investigate a complaint of child abuse. This video is part of the evidence that the prosecution presented against the woman & her boyfriend, Leiva, in the trial they are facing for the torture & murder of the minor. Judicial Action. Court site shows 2/10/23 as last date of trial.

 

[Allabouttrial]

The court site shows for Feb. 10th - Judicial Action
and no more trial dates since today. Wondering if both the defense teams rested their case on Friday - ?? - And the Judge is now going over his decision - referring to the to "Judicial Action" mentioned on Feb. 10th.

And I have found NO current articles as of this morning....

And thanks for posting all those articles!

Ahh of course, that's probably it. Means the defense didn't put up much of a case then. Will keep my eyes peeled for a verdict!

 

[Niner]

Ahh of course, that's probably it. Means the defense didn't put up much of a case then. Will keep my eyes peeled for a verdict!

Yes, Hopefully a verdict!! LWOP would be good...

And thanks for checking around for some more info!

 

[Niner]

@Allabouttrial - also if you can find out IF Beltran was there for this hearing. TIA!

 

[Allabouttrial]

This video from 3 days ago, doesn't say anything about what stage the trial was at though.

SS from video:

Bedroom Anthony spent last 5 days in:








Living room where EMS found Anthony.

 

[Niner]

Ah - court is in session!

Update!

Upcoming Scheduled Events

Date Time Location Dept/Room Number
February 14, 2023 09:00 AM Clara Shortridge Foltz Criminal Justice Center 108 COURT TRIAL IN PROGRESS

link: Criminal Case Summary - Online Services - LA Court

 

[Niner]

Tuesday, February 14th:
*Bench Trial continues (Day 12) for both (@ 9am PT) – CA – Anthony Avalos (10) (June 20, 2018, Lancaster; died 6/21/18) – *Heather Maxine Barrón (29/now 33) (“mom”) arrested & charged (6/29/18), arraigned (7/2/18), indicted (10/31/18) & recharged & indicted (2/27/19) with 1st degree capital murder, torture (special circumstance allegation of murder involving the infliction of torture) & 2 counts of child endangerment resulting in death. Plead not guilty. Held on $2M bond. DA will not seek DP. Possible sentence 22 yrs to life.
*Kareem Ernesto Leiva (32/now 36) (BF) arrested (6/27/18), charged (6/29/18), arraigned (7/2/18), indicted (10/31/18) & recharged & indicted (2/27/19) with 1st degree capital murder, torture (special circumstance allegation of murder involving the infliction of torture) & 2 counts of child endangerment resulting in death. Plead not guilty. Held on $2M bond. DA will not seek DP. Maximum sentence 32 yrs to life.
Bench Trial began on 1/25/23. Presiding Superior Court Judge Sam Ohta. Court is dark on Fridays.
Court info from 8/6/18 thru 1/19/23 & Trial Day 1-10 (1/25 to 2/9/23) reference post #205 here:
https://www.websleuths.com/forums/t...-lancaster-20-june-2018-arrest.378137/page-11
2/10/23 Friday, Trial Day 11: Prosecutors showed a new video reveals how Anthony's mother was being investigated for years for alleged child abuse. The images, dating from April 2016, show how a L.A. County officer came to the house in Lancaster where Barrón lived to investigate a complaint of child abuse. This video is part of the evidence that the prosecution presented against the woman & her boyfriend, Leiva, in the trial they are facing for the torture & murder of the minor. Judicial Action. Trial back in session on Tuesday, 2/14/23.

 

[Niner]

No updates that I could find for yesterday's trial... and the court site still has 2/14 as next hearing.

Wednesday, February 15th:
*Bench Trial continues (Day 13) for both (@ 9am PT) – CA – Anthony Avalos (10) (June 20, 2018, Lancaster; died 6/21/18) – *Heather Maxine Barrón (29/now 33) (“mom”) arrested & charged (6/29/18), arraigned (7/2/18), indicted (10/31/18) & recharged & indicted (2/27/19) with 1st degree capital murder, torture (special circumstance allegation of murder involving the infliction of torture) & 2 counts of child endangerment resulting in death. Plead not guilty. Held on $2M bond. DA will not seek DP. Possible sentence 22 yrs to life.
*Kareem Ernesto Leiva (32/now 36) (BF) arrested (6/27/18), charged (6/29/18), arraigned (7/2/18), indicted (10/31/18) & recharged & indicted (2/27/19) with 1st degree capital murder, torture (special circumstance allegation of murder involving the infliction of torture) & 2 counts of child endangerment resulting in death. Plead not guilty. Held on $2M bond. DA will not seek DP. Maximum sentence 32 yrs to life.
Bench Trial began on 1/25/23. Presiding Superior Court Judge Sam Ohta. Court is dark on Fridays.
Court info from 8/6/18 thru 1/19/23 & Trial Day 1-11 (1/25 to 2/10/23) reference post #211 here:
https://www.websleuths.com/forums/t...-lancaster-20-june-2018-arrest.378137/page-11
2/14/23 Tuesday, Trial Day 12: No info available yet. Trial continues on Wednesday, 2/15/23.

 

[Niner]

Well I am coming up with ZERO for this case. Only current article I am getting is from 7 days ago...

and the court site has:

Past Events
Date Time Location Dept/Room Number Events
February 10, 2023 10:00 AM Clara Shortridge Foltz Criminal Justice Center 108 JUDICIAL ACTION

February 14, 2023 09:00 AM Clara Shortridge Foltz Criminal Justice Center 108 COURT TRIAL IN PROGRESS

Upcoming Scheduled Events

None

link: Criminal Case Summary - Online Services - LA Court


I guess I will wait until the afternoon to check the court site again since I am 10 hours ahead of Pacific time....

@Allabouttrial - can you find anything current? Since the court site has 2/14 as trial date - ??
TIA if you can!

I shall hold off posting my stuff...

 

[Allabouttrial]

@Niner. Sorry I was engrossed in Nicola Bulley's case and completely forgot to check!

https://twitter.com/x/status/1626011848054296576

 

[Allabouttrial]

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The judge also heard testimony from three social workers from the county’s Department of Children and Family Services who responded to a series of calls to the child abuse hotline involving the boy’s mother, including the call from the therapist.

Social worker Shane Bulkley told the judge that Barron acknowledged she had used a belt on the children and used hot sauce as a disciplinary measure in the past, but that he and his supervisor found there wasn’t sufficient evidence to corroborate the concerns expressed by the therapist in her October 2014 hotline call.

Another social worker, Lusine Khachatryan, said she visited Barron after a call of suspected abuse was made to the hotline in April 2014 and that she denied physically abusing her children, although she said Anthony — who was then 6 years old — reported to her that his mother was engaging in physical discipline with a paddle and a belt and that she was locking him and his siblings in their bedroom.

The social worker testified that she also informed the woman that it was inappropriate to allow her then-3-year-old son, Rafael, to take an unsupervised bath during her visit to the home. Barron admitted that she was five months pregnant at the time, but refused to provide information about Leiva or the father of one of her other sons, according to Khachatryan.

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Therapist says she had grave concerns about Anthony Avalos’ family before child’s death

“It was just a constant barrage of negativity,” a therapist testified about what she witnessed of Heather Maxine Barron’s interaction with her children.

www.dailynews.com

 

[Allabouttrial]

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"It was just a constant barrage of negativity," the marriage and family therapist testified Tuesday about what she witnessed of Barron's interaction with her children. "It was striking ... This is still striking."

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...She noted that the woman called one of her younger sons names and accused her daughter of "faking it" when she cried while her mother ripped a brush through her tangled hair.

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Ikea Dayshell Vernon said she spoke with Anthony, who informed her while he was living with his aunt and uncle that his mother locked him and his half-siblings in their rooms, that she and Leiva hit them and that he was never going to see his mother again. But Vernon said the boy and his half-siblings subsequently recanted after they moved back to his mother's home.

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Another social worker, Anna Sciortino, testified that she wound up serving a warrant to remove Anthony's half-brother, A, from his father's home after Barron reported that the man had injured her ribs during a confrontation and that Anthony expressed fear of his half-sibling's father.

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Therapist says she had grave concerns about Anthony Avalos' family before 10-year-old boy's death

A therapist who was sent to do an assessment at the Lancaster home of a boy testified that she had grave concerns about the way his mother behaved toward her children.

abc7.com

 

[Allabouttrial]

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The social worker testified that she also informed the woman that it was inappropriate to allow her then-3-year-old son, R, to take an unsupervised bath during her visit to the home. Barron admitted that she was five months pregnant at the time, but refused to provide information about Leiva or the father of one of her other sons, according to Khachatryan.

She acknowledged that she allowed Anthony and his half-siblings to remain with Barron after speaking with her supervisor and determining that they didn't have enough to file a case with the dependency court.

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Therapist Says She Had Grave Concerns About Anthony Avalos' Family Before His Death

A therapist who was sent to do an assessment at the Lancaster home of Anthony Avalos less than four years before his death testified Tuesday that she had grave concerns about the way his mother behaved toward her children.

www.nbclosangeles.com

 

[Niner]

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The judge also heard testimony from three social workers from the county’s Department of Children and Family Services who responded to a series of calls to the child abuse hotline involving the boy’s mother, including the call from the therapist.

Social worker Shane Bulkley told the judge that Barron acknowledged she had used a belt on the children and used hot sauce as a disciplinary measure in the past, but that he and his supervisor found there wasn’t sufficient evidence to corroborate the concerns expressed by the therapist in her October 2014 hotline call.

Another social worker, Lusine Khachatryan, said she visited Barron after a call of suspected abuse was made to the hotline in April 2014 and that she denied physically abusing her children, although she said Anthony — who was then 6 years old — reported to her that his mother was engaging in physical discipline with a paddle and a belt and that she was locking him and his siblings in their bedroom.

The social worker testified that she also informed the woman that it was inappropriate to allow her then-3-year-old son, Rafael, to take an unsupervised bath during her visit to the home. Barron admitted that she was five months pregnant at the time, but refused to provide information about Leiva or the father of one of her other sons, according to Khachatryan.

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Therapist says she had grave concerns about Anthony Avalos’ family before child’s death

“It was just a constant barrage of negativity,” a therapist testified about what she witnessed of Heather Maxine Barron’s interaction with her children.

www.dailynews.com

Wonder why I did not have this pop up.... must be blocked over here or something!

Glad you found something!! And I could access the article! THANKS!

 

[Allabouttrial]

This is probably going to sound wrong no matter how I say it, but it gives me some level of comfort knowing that he was not going through this alone. I have no doubt that the siblings probably supported and protected each other.

As we're aware in most of these cases it's usually just one child who's singled out, making them feel isolated and unloved by all around them. I can't help but feel a little relief knowing that at least he had them in his too short a life.

 

[Niner]

So I am going to go ahead & post this - and if it didn't happen - I will correct my notes.


Thursday, February 16th:
*Bench Trial continues (Day 14) for both (@ 9am PT) – CA – Anthony Avalos (10) (June 20, 2018, Lancaster; died 6/21/18) – *Heather Maxine Barrón (29/now 33) (“mom”) arrested & charged (6/29/18), arraigned (7/2/18), indicted (10/31/18) & recharged & indicted (2/27/19) with 1st degree capital murder, torture (special circumstance allegation of murder involving the infliction of torture) & 2 counts of child endangerment resulting in death. Plead not guilty. Held on $2M bond. DA will not seek DP. Possible sentence 22 yrs to life.
*Kareem Ernesto Leiva (32/now 36) (BF) arrested (6/27/18), charged (6/29/18), arraigned (7/2/18), indicted (10/31/18) & recharged & indicted (2/27/19) with 1st degree capital murder, torture (special circumstance allegation of murder involving the infliction of torture) & 2 counts of child endangerment resulting in death. Plead not guilty. Held on $2M bond. DA will not seek DP. Maximum sentence 32 yrs to life.
Bench Trial began on 1/25/23. Presiding Superior Court Judge Sam Ohta. Court is dark on Fridays.
Court info from 8/6/18 thru 1/19/23 & Trial Day 1-11 (1/25 to 2/10/23) reference post #211 here:
https://www.websleuths.com/forums/t...-lancaster-20-june-2018-arrest.378137/page-11
2/14/23 Tuesday, Trial Day 12: Wendy Wright, a marriage & family therapist who worked for the Children’s Center of Antelope Valley at time (was sent to do an assessment at the Lancaster home 4 years prior to his death). Shane Bulkley, social worker with the Dept. of Children & Family Services (about October 2014 hotline call). Ikea Dayshell Vernon, social worker with the Dept. of Children & Family Services (about Sept. 2015 for 3 hotline calls) Lusine Khachatryan, social worker with the Dept. of Children & Family Services (about April 2014 hotline call). Anna Sciortino, social worker, (about April 2015 hotline call on behalf of Angel, Anthony's 1/2 brother).
One of Barron’s attorneys, Nancy Sperber, opted not to make an opening statement.
For more info see posts #215 to 217 (articles) here:
https://www.websleuths.com/forums/t...-lancaster-20-june-2018-arrest.378137/page-11
2/15/23 Wednesday, Trial Day 13: No info available. Trial continues on Thursday, 2/16/23.