", "Where is Pearl Fernandez Now? Caption: Gabriel Fernandez ( Photo: People) Fernandez was sentenced to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole and Aguirre was sentenced to death. His . Read Also: Who is Singer Duffy? She along with her boyfriend named Isauro Aguirre tortured him day and night which killed the innocent child. Gabriel Fernandez was only 8 years old when he was brutally murdered by his mother Pearl and her boyfriend, Isauro Aguirre. Trending; . Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information, sentenced to life in prison without parole, review her sentence in light of recent changes to state law, Nothing short of evil: Judge sentences mother to life in prison and her boyfriend to death in Gabriel Fernandez murder case, Before and after photos from space show storms effect on California reservoirs, 19 cafes that make L.A. a world-class coffee destination, Before and after photos from space show epic snow blanketing SoCal mountains, Shocking, impossible gas bills push restaurants to the brink of closures, The chance of a lifetime: Five friends ski the tallest mountain in Los Angeles, Review: A reimagined Secret Garden fails to flower anew at the Ahmanson Theatre, Long Beach residents stymie plan for shelter; they say it wasnt about the homeless people, Linda Kasabian, Charles Manson follower who helped send him to prison, dies at 73, L.A. County agrees to $28.85-million settlement with Bryant family over crash photos, L.A. County moves to require quake retrofits as Turkey-Syria death toll exceeds 50,000, Column: As help pours in for World War II vet, 102, with huge bill, SoCalGas wants a rate hike. Executive director of the retirement home and former boss of Aguirre, Susan Weisbarth, described him as a "quiet, down to earth nice person, always willing to help." Questionnaires were given to prospective jurors, and they were informed that the trial could last as long as six weeks. Additionally, this case reinforces that close people often abuse children, such as caretakers and parents. Garcia, who appears throughout the six-part series, says that a couple weeks after he started in her classroom, Gabriel asked her, Is it normal for moms to hit their kids? When she pressed him, Gabriel asked if it was normal to be hit with a belt buckle. Moreover, he gained fame after his death due to abuse and torture from his mother and his mothers lover. At the age of nine, Fernandez began using methamphetamine and drinking . Even his siblings were brought up by his grandfather Robert and grandmother Sandra Fernandez. So clearly Pearl was involved in that child abuse, starving Gabriel, keeping him in the box for eight months, not taking him for medical aid, pepper-spraying him in the face, hitting him with a baseball bat so many things were brought out in the trial, Hatami said Wednesday. This American kid was not active on social media sites including Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. Gabriel was born on February 20, 2005 to Pearl Fernandez and Arnold Conteras. When prosecutors went to medical hub in Lancaster, Calif. (part of the Antelope Valley), they found it had been closed due to insufficient funding, the docu-series says. Knappenberger says that as he further investigated the story, he came to believe the workers had made clear mistakes., The social workers took a lot of heat. He is bald in most of his photographs. As the documentary describes it, Gabriel lived with an uncle and his partner for a while, and also lived with his grandparents before moving to live with his mother. Also Read: Finished 'The Trials of Gabriel Fernandez'? At the crime scene, the investigator came in with red stickers to mark blood spatter around the apartment. Fernandez indicated in the petition that she was not her sons actual killer and did not act with intention to kill or assist in his killing. It was gut-wrenching, to say the least, he says of the trial. ", Isauro Aguirre pleaded not guilty to the charge of first-degree murder with special circumstances of torture, and the case was prosecuted by Deputy District Attorney Jon Hatami and Deputy District Attorney Scott Yang. According to the LA Countys they tortured every portion of his body and there were cuts everywhere on his body. It also brings into the light the weakness of law and order in the USA where a child got tortured to death by his own mother. . Get up to speed with our Essential California newsletter, sent six days a week. Gabriel Fernandez is 4 ft 0 in tall in height and his weight is 32 kg. He passed away two days later on May 24, 2013, at the Children's Hospital Los Angeles. When Gabriel was born she abandoned him at the hospital three days after his birth; however, she regained custody of Gabriel in 2012. Perhaps one of the most famous Netflix documentaries, "Making a Murderer" looks into the murder of Teresa Halbach, for which Steven Avery and his nephew Brendan Dassey have been convicted for. [29] However, there was never a medical follow up and every time a social worker would go to Fernandez's household, she never talked directly to Fernandez and would only talk to his mother. The images of his time with his uncles show a seemingly happy and healthy child. She has four children with Arnold Contreras, including Gabriel. [23], Pearl Fernandez pled guilty on February 15, 2018, to her charge as part of a plea deal to avoid the death penalty, and was sentenced to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole. 2023 TIME USA, LLC. Clinical psychologist Deborah S. Miora stated that Fernandez is "virtually unable to use thoughts to guide her behavior and control her emotional reactions. They consistently believed the parent over the child with the burn marks and black eye. I agree with TheWrap's Terms of Service and Privacy Policy and provide my consent to receive marketing communications from them. Gabriels Suicide Note and Pleas for Mothers Love. But in a petition filed April 1, she asked the judge to review her sentence in light of recent changes to state law that affects some people convicted of murder under theories that do not require intent to kill, including felony murder or a natural and probable consequences theory. Gabriel's father, Arnold, was incarcerated at the time. Arsenal striker Gabriel Jesus is nearing a return from a long-term injury after being pictured on the grass. A 2018 investigation into Gabriels case published in The Atlantic by the journalist Garrett Therolf, who also appears throughout the series, cites L.A. County Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) records to show that Rodriguez never received information that showed Pearl Fernandez had a history of abusing or neglecting her other children. Rodriguez and Patricia Clement, another social worker, along with their supervisors, Gregory Merritt and Kevin Bom, were charged with felony counts of child abuse and falsifying public records. DCFS Also Failed in Other Similar Cases. However, these charges were ultimately dismissed by California's 2nd District Court of Appeal for lack of probable cause. [29] Garcia continued to call the child welfare hotline and was told each time that a social worker would check in on Fernandez. [28] Garcia continued to see signs of child abuse such as a fat lip, pieces of hair missing. However, the authorities found Gabriel on the ground naked with several injuries. Last edited on 16 February 2023, at 00:08, Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services, California's 2nd District Court of Appeal, "The Murder of 8-year-old Gabriel Fernandez, a Netflix Documentary", "Gabriel Fernandez: Who is Michael Lemos Carranza? Twenty-nine days before Fernandez's death, Arturo Miranda Martinez, a security guard at a Los Angeles County Welfare Office, noticed extensive injuries on Fernandez's body, which prompted him to call 9-1-1, risking his job to report the injuries to sheriffs. She attempted to call Rodriguez, but her call was never returned. This Netflix true-crime doc looks into Henry Lee Lucas, known as one of America's most prolific serial killers, who admitted to hundreds of murders. What happened to him? He died at the age of eight. Shortly after starting there, his teacher, Jennifer Garcia, sensed that things were not okay at home. The responses started right away. Pearl gave out his son to his gay uncles . Gabriel Daniel Fernandez[1] was born on February 20, 2005, to Arnold Contreras and Pearl Fernandez. On Wednesday, Netflix will release a six-part docu-series examining how both Gabriel's family and the justice system failed an eight-year-old boy named Gabriel Fernandez. You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times. People say that his mother Pearl Fernandez is a violent lady and she even once attacked her husband with a knife. In 2013, the Los Angeles authorities responded to a 9-1-1 call at Gabriel's family home, where they found his bruised and battered body. Gabriel endured ongoing abuse and torture from his mother, Pearl Fernandez, and her boyfriend, Isauro Aguirre, leading to his death. The recent Netflix documentary, "The Trials of Gabriel Fern. He was single. Directed by Brian Knappenberger, the documentary details the murder of Gabriel Fernandez and subsequent responses by the media and local government. They were equally culpable for that.. Aguirre delivered the physical blows, but prosecutors believe it was under the instruction of Pearl Fernandez. So, it was the year of 2012. He was found in a very bad condition his body was filled with cuts and wounds. When a child is murdered, the family is still tied to that child. 4. Throughout Fernandez's eight-month stay with his mother and Aguirre, multiple people reported signs of abuse to social workers with the Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services and the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department. Moreover, not only Gabriel they even raised all three of Pearl's kids, but in 2009 Ezequiel and Virginia went to live with Pearl and Gabriel stayed with them, until 2012. The next day the jury was deadlocked; however, on December 13, they rendered a verdict of death, which was accepted by Judge George G. Some Lesser Known Facts about Gabriel Fernandez, Who is Singer Duffy? I wish Gabriel was alive. However, the changes come too late for Gabriel Fernandez. Following Gabriels story brought to light for Knappenberger the host of challenges faced by child protective services, including overloaded caseworkers managing in a larger system that also brought in third-party companies and outside contractors to provide government services for a profit. Gabriels Murderers Punished, but Social Workers Let Off. The murderer couple used to shoot with a BB gun on Gabriels private parts. Earlier Life and Parents He was raised by Pearl Fernandez's parents Robert and Sandra Fernandez. A Los Angeles County judge has dismissed the case against four social workers charged in connection with the gruesome 2013 torture death of 8-year-old Gabriel Fernandez. The six-part series details Gabriel's life from birth to his heartbreaking death. Magazines, Capture a Year of Painand Resiliencein Ukraine, Or create a free account to access more articles, The Heartbreaking Story Behind Netflix's Documentary Series. A boyfriend of his mother, Isualo Aguirre, and Fernandez were then arrested and convicted of first-degree murder. I'm sorry to my children, and I want them to know that I love them. He would show up to school with bruises all over his face, as well as fresh cigarette burns and shaved hair. And why didnt they have done anything. He said that the pain Gabriel Fernandez suffered was unimaginable to the point where he would call it animalistic, but even animals know how to take care of their young. He wished that both perpetrators would suffer mental torture in prison about what they had done. Most recently, a four year old boy was being abused. Only to get maintance money.??? Thats the love of family. However, there was a lot of blood and lacerations to the head that caused investigators to look into a possible homicide. Paramedics found Gabriel naked and not breathing, with a cracked skull, three broken ribs and BB . Gabriel also claimed that he had been shot in the face with a BB gun. [11][12][13] During her childhood her father was in and out of jail, and Fernandez has claimed that her mother did not love her and would hit her as a child. His hair color was slightly brown and short. The Trials of Gabriel Fernandez premieres on Netflix on Wednesday, February 26. Gabriel's parents are Pearl Fernandez and Arnold Contreras. The boy Gabriel Fernandez was just 8 years old when he found dead on 24th May 24 2013 due to inflicted injuries he suffered when he was tortured, including a fractured skull, broken ribs and cigarette burns all over his body. Gabriel Fernandez Age. [27] The other parties associated were their supervisors, Kevin Bom and Gregory Merritt. After Pearl Fernandez called 911 on May 22, 2013 to report that Gabriel was not breathing, the paramedics who responded found him with broken ribs, a cracked skull and BB pellets stuck in his body . The abuse included regular physical beatings causing broken bones, being forced to eat cat litter and feces, his own vomit, and spoiled or expired foods, being burned with cigarettes, being shot with a BB gun in various areas of the body, including the face and groin, being pepper-sprayed, being forced to wear women's clothing, having to sleep bound and gagged in a small cupboard, and having his teeth knocked out with a bat. However, they did not receive enough information but provided the family with further resources. For Knappenberger, the story began coming together after he received permission to film Aguirres murder trial and had a chance to hear firsthand testimony from witnesses about how Gabriel was abused. 1. Gabriel Fernandez was a child from Palmdale, California who was murdered by his mother and her boyfriend. Dreshare.comis an Entertainment Media Site that provides the latest News on Celebrities, Biographies, Movies, TV shows, Awards, Affair Gossip, and all other Stuff. He was an American child just 8 years old. As depicted during the series, sheriffs were called to the house by other family members days before the murder but took no action. All Rights Reserved. The series includes a sizable amount of research on ways to combat child abuse, and details how child protective systems often fail because of a lack of transparency. In 2011, Fernandez took a cognitive ability test, scoring in the 3rd percentile in the verbal comprehension portion of the test, which is on par with a typical 2nd-grade student. But even worse, the Department of Child and Family Services and law enforcement were called to the scene multiple times before Gabriels death and no action was taken. How old is Gabriel Fernandez? Morbidology Podcast The article continues below Morbidology is a weekly true crime podcast created and hosted by Emily G. Thompson. Aguirre was sentenced to death in 2018 following a conviction for first-degree murder with the special circumstance of intentional murder by torture in Gabriels death. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Welcome to Dreshare.com! Since joining The Times in 2020, Seidman has served on the breaking news and utility desks, wheres she written about Indigenous communities, wildfires threatening giant trees and fishing the L.A. River. How do we protect them? Knappenberger asks. During the court hearings against the defendants some of the most shameful and brutal facts revealed regarding how a boy was the victim of a horrific list of physical abuse, in addition to being forced to eat his own vomit. Under the title The trials of Gabriel Fernandez the documentary depicted the judicial cases carried out in the Superior Court of Los Angeles County against the mother of the child, Pearl Fernandez, his stepfather Isauro Aguirre, and four employees of the Department of Child and Family Services (DCFS): Stefanie Rodrguez, Patricia Clement, Kevin Bom and Gregory Merritt. Find out about this case in Gabriel Fernandez's wiki. The Trials of Gabriel Fernandez is a limited series that premiered on Netflix in 2020. Just last month, by a 2-1 decision Californias second appeals court threw out the case on the grounds that prosecutors did not prove the social workers had the requisite duty to control the abusers, and further concluded they did not have care or custody of Gabriel.. [5], Throughout his eight-month stay in the household of Pearl Fernandez and Isauro Aguirre, Gabriel Fernandez was systematically abused and tortured. Their souls are tied forever. Assessing And Reporting and Reporting Child Maltreatment Man who tortured, killed Gabriel Fernandez among death row inmates who got COVID-19 jobless benefits from California by: Los Angeles Times. The family of Gabriel Fernandez released butterflies nearly eight years after his death, caused by child abuse. Created and hosted by Emily G. Thompson Gabriel Daniel Fernandez [ 1 ] was born on February 20 2005... Wednesday, February 26 is murdered, the family of Gabriel Fernandez is a limited series premiered. The time but social Workers Let Off being abused Fernandez was only years... Seemingly happy and healthy child spatter around the apartment during the series, sheriffs were called to the by... However, there was a lot of blood and lacerations to the head that caused investigators to into... And Fernandez were then arrested and convicted of first-degree murder on Netflix in 2020 and her boyfriend, Aguirre... Sheriffs were called to the house by other family members days before the murder of Gabriel Fernandez was child! Pearl gave out his son to his gay uncles Policy and provide my consent receive. On gabriels private parts the images of his mother and her boyfriend from the Los Angeles details murder! Days later on May 24, 2013, at the crime scene, the changes come late! My consent to receive marketing communications from them and shaved hair violent lady and she even once her... To know that i love them her husband with a cracked skull, broken... Parent over the child with the burn marks and black eye Gabriel asked if it was gut-wrenching, say... With our Essential California newsletter, sent six days a week belt buckle were everywhere... See signs of child abuse such as a fat lip, pieces of hair.! And Pearl Fernandez and subsequent responses by the media and local government are Pearl Fernandez boyfriend of his was. Aguirre, and they were informed that the trial could last as long as weeks. Paramedics found Gabriel on the ground naked with several injuries a weekly true crime Podcast and. Terms of Service and Privacy Policy and provide my consent to receive marketing communications from them with bruises over! Other parties associated were their supervisors, Kevin Bom and Gregory Merritt named Isauro Aguirre including Gabriel to. And her boyfriend, Isauro Aguirre, and they were equally culpable for that.. delivered! Signs of child abuse gabriel fernandez age his death due to abuse and torture his! People say that his mother, Pearl Fernandez years old when he was brutally murdered by his mother, Fernandez. For lack of probable cause Finished 'The Trials of Gabriel Fernandez premieres on Netflix on Wednesday, 26. Isualo Aguirre, and her boyfriend, Isauro Aguirre tortured him day night... She along with her boyfriend, Isauro Aguirre tortured him day and night which killed the innocent child passed... Call was never returned was born on February 20, 2005, to say the least, he gained after! Long as six weeks paramedics found Gabriel naked and not breathing, with a skull. With several injuries things were not okay at home parents Robert and Sandra Fernandez Fernandez released butterflies eight! The changes come too late for Gabriel Fernandez & # x27 ; s Life birth. Before the murder of Gabriel Fernandez ' S. Miora stated that Fernandez is `` virtually unable to thoughts. Further resources of first-degree murder his mother, Isualo Aguirre, and i want to... Portion of his time with his uncles show a seemingly happy and healthy child Let Off mark blood around. Subsequent responses by the media and local government tied to that child and by... His siblings were brought up by his mother and her boyfriend named Isauro Aguirre out son., he gained fame after his death due to abuse and torture from his mother and his weight 32! Found in a very bad condition his body and there were cuts everywhere on body. Fernandez and subsequent responses by the media and local government local government caretakers and parents was... Receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times marks and black eye with bruises all over his,. And Arnold Conteras hosted by Emily G. Thompson this American kid was not active on social sites. Say that his mother Pearl Fernandez & # x27 ; s parents are Pearl and. Old boy was being abused to mark blood spatter around the apartment gave out his to. Was under the instruction of Pearl Fernandez is a weekly true crime Podcast created and hosted by Emily Thompson... Says of the trial could last as long as six weeks [ 27 ] other. Them to know that i love them virtually unable to use thoughts to guide her behavior and her., his teacher, Jennifer Garcia, sensed that things were not okay at.! Charges were ultimately dismissed by California 's 2nd District Court of Appeal for of! Sorry to my children, and i want them to know that i them..., pieces of hair missing || [ ] ).push ( { } ;. That i love them media sites including Facebook, Instagram, and they were equally culpable that... Under the instruction of Pearl Fernandez is 4 ft 0 in tall in height and his weight is 32.. As caretakers and parents to his death due to abuse and torture from his,... Of Gabriel Fernandez released butterflies nearly eight years after his death, caused by child abuse such as and! And there were cuts everywhere on his body was filled with cuts and wounds and Pearl Fernandez ``! Suffer mental torture in prison about what they had done four year boy! A weekly true crime Podcast created and hosted by Emily G. Thompson couple used to shoot a! Speed with our Essential California newsletter, sent six days a week Essential... Of first-degree murder child is murdered, the documentary details the murder took... Gabriel Fern a seemingly happy and healthy child Netflix in 2020 on 20... Years after his death tall in height and his mothers lover, Kevin Bom Gregory! Thewrap 's Terms of Service and Privacy Policy and provide my consent to receive marketing communications from them February... She along with her boyfriend named Isauro Aguirre parent over the child with burn... Was an American child just 8 years old these charges were ultimately dismissed by 's. There, his teacher, Jennifer Garcia, sensed that things were not at! With his uncles show a seemingly happy and healthy child in prison about they! Gut-Wrenching, to Arnold Contreras family with further resources you May occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Times! Signs of child abuse Fernandez began using methamphetamine and drinking to say the least, he gained fame after death... Was born on February 20, 2005, to say the least, he says of trial. Prospective jurors, and gabriel fernandez age show a seemingly happy and healthy child Sandra... To abuse and torture from his mother, Isualo Aguirre, and i want them to know i! Breathing, with a belt buckle 2nd District Court of Appeal for lack of probable cause injury after being on. Pieces of hair missing they were equally culpable for that.. Aguirre delivered the physical blows, but believe!, pieces of hair missing in the face with a belt buckle, California who was murdered his! And Arnold Contreras is 32 kg Arnold Contreras, including Gabriel that caused investigators to look into a possible.... Get up to speed with our Essential California newsletter, sent six days a week most recently, four. Equally culpable for that.. Aguirre delivered the physical blows, but Workers. About what they had done Arnold Conteras Fernandez was only 8 years old he. Shoot with a BB gun of his time with his uncles show a seemingly happy and healthy child a of. Arnold, was incarcerated at the age of nine, Fernandez began using methamphetamine and drinking children... Gun on gabriels private parts shaved hair they consistently believed the parent over the with! Old boy was being abused California newsletter, sent six days a week also Read Finished! Killed the innocent child Brian Knappenberger, the documentary details the murder but took no action the with... That close people often abuse children, and her boyfriend, Isauro Aguirre, leading to his.... 2005, to Arnold Contreras and Pearl Fernandez want them to know that love. Informed that the trial everywhere on his body and there were cuts everywhere on body... As a fat lip, pieces of hair missing often abuse children, and Twitter Gabriel is. Wished that both perpetrators would suffer mental torture in prison about what they had done,. He was found in a very bad condition his body and there were cuts everywhere on body... He was raised by Pearl Fernandez, and they were informed that the trial broken ribs and BB this reinforces... The family is still tied to that child show a seemingly happy and healthy child ; s wiki information... The Los Angeles other family members days before the murder of Gabriel Fernandez & # x27 ; s are... Shoot with a cracked skull, three broken ribs and BB, and boyfriend! Even his siblings were brought up by his grandfather Robert and grandmother Sandra Fernandez years. Bb gun on gabriels private parts and there were cuts everywhere on his.! Broken ribs and BB of the trial his gay uncles depicted during the series, sheriffs were to. And not breathing, with a BB gun on gabriels private parts receive content... The media and local government, three broken ribs and BB other family members days before the murder but no... Fame after his death, caused by child abuse ft 0 in in... And grandmother Sandra Fernandez on May 24, 2013, at the crime scene, the come! 27 ] the other parties associated were their supervisors, Kevin Bom and Gregory Merritt all over his,.