GUILTY CA - Gabriel Fernandez, 8, tortured to death, Palmdale, 22 May 2013

[LaborDayRN]

I don't regret watching that video either, as hard as it was to watch. I was really heartened by a thread yesterday about Arizona completely revamping their CPS system under the guidance of their governor.

It sounds like California needs the same complete overhaul. Teachers, who are the closest outside contact for vulnerable children need more power. It just seems the school systems (maybe the nurse or counselor?) should have power to consult with the child's teachers and take photos as evidence and have power to apply for a temporary removal of a child by law enforcement in cases where CPS seems sluggish or unresponsive. Always having to go through this one agency when children are assaulted at home just seems to make the system so vulnerable.

Imagine having to go through some kind of filter before being able to call LE or the fire department? That's what seems to be going on here.

Haircuts are one thing and you could see how that might not raise a red flag. But being shot in the face multiple times with a bb gun should have resulted in LE at their doorstep with an arrest warrant.

Sad, sad case. But maybe he will be able to leave a legacy that will help other teachers get the ear of CPS when a case this severe surfaces.

BBM: This is what I don't understand. If this had been done to an adult, the perpetrator would have been arrested and charged! When it happens to the most innocent in our society at the hands of those who are supposed to love and protect them, it gets swept under the rug.

 

[MyBelle]

BBM: This is what I don't understand. If this had been done to an adult, the perpetrator would have been arrested and charged! When it happens to the most innocent in our society at the hands of those who are supposed to love and protect them, it gets swept under the rug.

There is no guarantee this would never happen to an adult. It doesn't sound like it is being swept under the rug now. Every facet of government has people failing to do their job. Things aren't going to change until they are held accountable and face serious, serious consequences when they screw up. This wasn't just a mistake, this was pure negligence. The only way a system can work effectively is when everyone does their job.

JMO

 

[JeannaT]

BBM: This is what I don't understand. If this had been done to an adult, the perpetrator would have been arrested and charged! When it happens to the most innocent in our society at the hands of those who are supposed to love and protect them, it gets swept under the rug.

I agree. The adult would have called the cops, and they would have come and arrested the BB shooter. In this case, there were layers between the victim and justice - the child reported to the teacher, who did the only thing she could do which was report it to CPS instead of calling the cops, and they didn't do anything at all about it.

So sad for that child.

 

[LaborDayRN]

There is no guarantee this would never happen to an adult. It doesn't sound like it is being swept under the rug now. Every facet of government has people failing to do their job. Things aren't going to change until they are held accountable and face serious, serious consequences when they screw up. This wasn't just a mistake, this was pure negligence. The only way a system can work effectively is when everyone does their job.

JMO

Many opportunities to save this little guy were missed. You are correct, this is pure negligence.

http://articles.latimes.com/2013/may/30/local/la-me-0531-child-death-20130530
Gabriel had previously written a note saying he was contemplating suicide, records show. His teacher told authorities he often appeared bruised and battered at school. BB pellets left bruises across his face. For reasons that are not clear, all but one investigation was determined to be "unfounded."

At the time of Gabriel's death, there was yet another, unresolved allegation of child abuse in his file. That referral has lingered two months past a legally mandated deadline for completing an investigation, records show.

"The red flags were all over the place. They were ignored. It is just inexplicable to me," said county Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky, noting that the Sheriff's Department was also aware of the abuse allegations.

 

[LaborDayRN]

I agree. The adult would have called the cops, and they would have come and arrested the BB shooter. In this case, there were layers between the victim and justice - the child reported to the teacher, who did the only thing she could do which was report it to CPS instead of calling the cops, and they didn't do anything at all about it.

So sad for that child.

BBM: In my mind, this is one of the biggest issues

 

[Arose]

This has really upset me. That poor little angel

 

[LaborDayRN]

After a year-long investigation, the Sheriff’s department confirmed to Fajardo that six deputies involved in the case have been disciplined.
“There wasn’t enough aggressive investigation [about the parents,]” said Sheriff John Scott.
Records showed that deputies were called to Gabriel’s home five times in the months leading up to his death.
Two of those calls involved suspected physical abuse, Fajardo reported. One of those calls came just weeks before his death. A security guard called officials to say that Gabriel’s face was “deformed and covered with bruises.”
“In one instance the child was asleep, or reportedly asleep, both those kinds of bruises, those kinds of injuries should be an awareness that there is something occurring that should not be occurring,” said Scott.
None of the deputies will be fired.
From records obtained from the Department of Children and Family Services, it appears the security guard’s account of Gabriel’s face was never reported to DCFS — a violation of State law and department policy.

http://losangeles.cbslocal.com/2014...n-investigation-of-8-year-olds-beating-death/

 

[sindydee]

This is disgusting. What they need to start doing it terminating parental rights. He should of stayed with his Grandma and Grandad. The abuse happens, they parents no longer have a right to their child. Why should they? End of story. It just goes round and around. The cost of parents committing a crime like this, lawyers, keeping them in prison, to the state is far higher than giving social workers a pay rise or recruiting more staff. Pay fosters carers more educate people more, give social workers more rights. Anyone with half a brain can work this out. It almost seems like the government in any country seem to have money to spend on so many things, but when it comes to abused and neglected children, the seem to not care. Forget the red tape, whoever makes the rules, change them. oh and those policemen, they should be fired too, They can see a severely battered boy and do nothing. Everyone that could of helped failed this little guy. So so sad

 

[LaborDayRN]

I've been unable to find any updates on the murder trial. The last I read it was supposed to be in June 2, but that date came and went. I'm sure it's been postponed, but I would love to know a date.

I did however, find this:

https://chronicleofsocialchange.org/news/the-ascension-of-a-czar/7066

"Los Angeles County is looking for a brave soul to head its newly formed Office of Child Protection, and anyone can apply.

“It will be a national search, and it is one of the most significant assignments that anyone in the nation can have in respect to child welfare services,” said Mark Ridley-Thomas, one of five members of the County’s Board of Supervisors. “It will be handled by the executive office, and it’ll be a fully publicized search.”

 

[LaborDayRN]

http://losangeles.cbslocal.com/2014/07/26/lawsuit-filed-over-abuse-death-of-palmdale-boy/

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Relatives of an 8-year-old boy who was beaten to death are suing Los Angeles County for failing to remove him from his Palmdale home.

 

[tlcya]

still one of the more horrific cases I have followed. Gabriel continues to haunt me. His little face. So many years of abuse and so many failures to end it by so many.

Fly high little man beyond earthly harm.

 

[LaborDayRN]

still one of the more horrific cases I have followed. Gabriel continues to haunt me. His little face. So many years of abuse and so many failures to end it by so many.

Fly high little man beyond earthly harm.

I feel the same tlcya. He was such a darling little boy. I still can't wrap my head around the things that happened to him. I wish I could find out when these monsters will be in court, but the trial seems to be postponed over and over again.

 

[LaborDayRN]

A Palmdale mother and her boyfriend pleaded not guilty to one count each of capital murder in connection with the fatal 2013 beating of 8-year-old Gabriel Fernandez.

On May 22, 2013, Gabriel was found barely breathing in his mother’s Palmdale apartment. He showed signs of having been beaten, restrained, shot with a BB gun in the groin and other torture.

They are due back in court August 14. Prosecutors said they will decide at a later date whether to seek the death penalty or life in prison without the possibility of parole.

http://www.nbclosangeles.com/news/l...in-Murder-of-Gabriel-Fernandez-270206101.html

 

[LaborDayRN]

 

[LaborDayRN]

Not guilty? I wonder if they are each going to blame the other.

 

[LaborDayRN]

Court update for preliminary hearing.

Pearl S. Fernandez case#BA42518002
LA superior court Dept 100
210 W. Temple st. Los Angeles

Isuaro Aguirre case# BA42518001

Both to have a preliminary hearing on August 14th @ 8:30 am...

 

[seattlechiquita]

So it begins. These life forms make me want to puke. Gabriel deserved much much better.

 

[LaborDayRN]

COURT INFORMATION!...

PEARL FERNANDEZ/ISAURO AGUIRRE
PRETRIAL HEARING..

210 WEST TEMPLE ST, DEPT 107 @ 8:30 AM.
9TH FLOOR...
LOS ANGELES... CA
AUGUST 14, 2014

ALL FUTURE HEARINGS & JURY TRIAL WILL TAKE PLACE IN THIS COURT ROOM. ALL FAMILY AND FRIENDS ..SUPPORTERS ARE WELCOME TO ATTEND..

https://www.facebook.com/Justice4Gabriel

 

[OkieGranny]

http://touch.latimes.com/#section/-1/article/p2p-81119640/

Before 8-year-old Gabriel Fernandez was allegedly beaten to death by his mother and her boyfriend, they doused him with pepper spray, forced him to eat his own vomit, and locked him in a cabinet with a sock stuffed in his mouth to muffle his screams, according to court records made public Monday.

Sworn grand jury testimony provided a graphic examination of the abuse that the Antelope Valley boy allegedly suffered before his death in May of 2013...

More than 800 pages of testimony reviewed by The Times also provide a clearer picture of how, despite multiple allegations of abuse, Gabriel's case seemingly slipped through the cracks.

 

[believe09]

I try to resist the whole mindset of vengeance because it just hurts me in the end, but I genuinely believe that everyone involved should have to have their rooms papered with pictures of the wreck of little man's body after these monsters were through with him.