Yet the charges against the group never made it to trial after the 2nd District Court of Appeal advised the lower court dismiss the charges. He now lives in the country's capital San Salvador, where his interviews for The Trials of Gabriel Fernandez took place. Support Center Find answers to questions about products, access, use, setup, and administration. It's all those emotions are there. For him, it's personal. "We have added thousands of case workers, which have increased the capability of us to be able to work very closely with families," said Bobby Cagle, director of the Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services. David maintains that this allegation is false, as did some members of Gabriel's family. Eventually, Pearl took Gabriel from his grandparents eight months before his death on May 24, 2013. For him, it's personal. Elizabeth Carranza, Gabriels great-aunt and Michaels sister spoke highly of Michael and David parenting. RELATED: Slain SoCal boy had BB lodged in his groin area, nurse testifies. The Los Angeles DA stated that Aguirre frequently beat Gabriel because he thought the boy was gay. "I can't tell you how many people I've spoken to that have chosen a career path in social services because they say they want to make a difference," Contreras said. After having Fernandez, his mom, Pearl, decided she wasnt the right person to raise him. He takes aim at the Department of Children and Family Services. Cagle was not available to answer follow up questions about two more recent DCFS death cases, also in Antelope Valley: Anthony Avalos and Noah Cuatro. "Unfortunately, I think this is something that's going to affect them the rest of their lives. Unfortunately, they were his last eight months. "They can't fight for themselves, they can't speak out for themselves. Her theory was that Pearl told authorities that it was bigger boys that were harming her son, not her and her partner. A fractured skull, broken ribs and BB pellets in his skin. Isauro, however, denied the charge, and was ultimately sentenced to death in 2018 he's now on death row. Michael was 46 years old at the time and his funeral arrangements were made in San . When he was 3 days old, Pearl sent her son to live with Michael. His memory has generated positive steps to save children. Their abuse led to his death in May 2013. PALMDALE, Calif. (KABC) -- This weekend marks seven years since parental child abuse took the life of 8-year-old Gabriel Fernandez. Netflixs documentary The Trials of Gabriel Fernandez explained to true crime viewers that Carranza was the one raising Fernandez from birth. Join half a million readers enjoying Newsweek's free newsletters, David Martinez in "The Trials of Gabriel Fernandez", Everyone Practices Cancel Culture | Opinion, Deplatforming Free Speech is Dangerous | Opinion. Because no matter how many times I saw Gabriel smile, when I think of Gabriel now, I picture him in that hospital bed, not waking up.". "As far as Canada, they come. "I love you so much that I will kill myself", it read. The head of DCFS says since Gabriel's death, the system has been overhauled. Children are still getting murdered. In Touch Weekly has affiliate partnerships so we may receive compensation for some links to products and services. During the trial of Isauro Aguirre, Robert testified that that one day his daughter took Gabriel and refused to bring him back. It would give an officer on an abuse call a way to quickly check for DCFS history and alert the caseworker. Those who knew Gabriel best talked to ABC7 about the boy. He is now and will forever be with his Gabriel.. May you both be hugging and laughing. Notably, it was fears of Gabriel's potential homosexuality that were revealed as a direct cause of the abuse Gabriel faced, as revealed at the trial of one of his killers, Isauro Aguirre. The dismissal, says Contreras, was as wrong as what happened earlier. Relatives who loved him and cared for him. Send it to us! Gabriel Fernandez was raised by his great uncle and his partner (Image: NETFLIX) In the documentary, Gabriel's move at the age of four was because his grandfather Robert Fernandez. Three months later on February 24, Pearl pleaded guilty to the same charge.Whereas Isauro received the death penalty, Pearl was immune from receiving the death penalty after taking a plea deal. He saw how it opened minds and hearts. "They can't fight for themselves, they can't speak out for themselves. Every question put his way was handled with a blend of authority and empathy. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. "Unfortunately, I think this is something that's gonna affect them the rest of their lives. Seven years later, Gabriel's story has traveled worldwide. We want to hear from you. The prosecutor's crusade to protect children was ignited at the Palmdale complex where Gabriel lived. "They had the upper hand, I honestly believe to remove him and save him. His memory has generated positive steps to save children. All rights reserved. He was my baby. Sadly, just 16 months after Gabriels death, 46-year-old Michael Lemos Carranza died on September 17, 2014. He saw how it opened minds and hearts. But they didn't," said Carranza. However, Pearl and Aguirre called Gabriel gay and hurt him for acting in manners that they considered. All Rights Reserved. Because no matter how many times I saw Gabriel smile, when I think of Gabriel now, I picture him in that hospital bed, not waking up.". Please note that this form cannot be used to reset your Google or Facebook password. A three-justice panel stated that there was no probable cause connected to child abuse or falsifying documents in a 2-to-1 opinion. I mean every part of his body there was something.". Notably, it was fears of Gabriel's potential homosexuality that were revealed as a direct cause of the abuse Gabriel faced, as revealed at the trial of one of his killers, Isauro Aguirre.. Gavin Newsom, citing his personal sense of morality, suspended all executions for as long as he's in office. They would take him everywhere, he would always be clean and happy. Express.co.ukhas everything you need to know. He didnt look like a child," she says. And in January this year, a motion to rehear the appeals court decision was denied and the criminal case against these four is not progressing further. But things could have been so different for Gabriel if hed been allowed to continue living with other relatives. His memory has generated positive steps to save children. They wanted to prove he performed CPR as the boy was dying. They want me to plead guilty to something I haven't done. The Sun website is regulated by the Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO), Our journalists strive for accuracy but on occasion we make mistakes. Just three days after he was born, Gabriel Fernandez was . Gabriel's teacher Jennifer Garcia reported signs of abuse to Rodriguez, according to court records. All rights reserved. Here's all that we know about Michael and his partner, who too had tragic fates. "I would show everybody that picture of Gabriel in the hospital. Copyright 2023 KABC Television, LLC. It is not any easier," Contreras said. In Netflixs documentary, Michaels partner David Martinez recalls: She didnt want him and the family didnt want her to have him. Before Gabriel Fernandez returned to his mother Pearl Fernandez, he was brought up by his Great uncle Michael Lemos Carranza and his grandparents. Fernandez lived with Robert and Sandra until he was 7, at which point Pearl and Aguirre took him back. Gabriel's memory in the household is so painful, they avoid it. 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 Sun", "Sun", "Sun Online" are registered trademarks or trade names of News Group Newspapers Limited. We use your sign-up to provide content in the ways you've consented to and improve our understanding of you. And what did they do? This weekend marks seven years since parental child abuse took the life of 8-year-old Gabriel Fernandez. David Martinez now lives in San Salvador - capital of El Salvador - after being deported from the US by ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement). Gabriel was first given to his great uncles, Michael Lemos Carranza and his partner David Martinez, where he spent around four years. In Netflix's The Trials of Gabriel Fernandez, Gabriel's relationship with Carranza and Martinez is described as the most loving, but what happened to his great-uncle? "I think you not only have a moral and ethical obligation to save that child, I think you have a legal obligation to save that child. "I would show everybody that picture of Gabriel in the hospital. Prosecutor Hatami firstly thought it was suspicious that she showed the note to his in-home counsellor, Carmen Le Norgant, just as she was leaving a visit less than three months before his death. "Children are still getting killed. But his grandparents, Robert and Sandra Fernandez, say they always had custody of Gabriel and eventually took him in themselves. For the first four years of his life, Gabriel lived with his great-uncle Michael Lemos Carranza and his partner David Martinez after Pearl gave the child away. In the early years of his life he lived with his Great Uncle but why did this change? Those who knew Gabriel best talked to ABC7 in Los Angeles about the boy. When emergency services were called to his home in May 2013, he was found with a fractured skull, broken ribs and BB gun bullets in his skin, to name a few of his horrific injuries. He said: She [Pearl] didnt want him and the family didnt want her to have him. "A lot of the family wants to blame just Tony," says Elizabeth Carranza, Gabriel's great-aunt. Why No One Saved Gabriel Fernandez. You need to care," said Deputy District Attorney Jon Hatami. But Prosecutor Jon Hatami believed Pearl took Gabriel into her custody so she could claim more welfare benefits. Cagle was not available to answer follow up questions about two more recent DCFS death cases, also in Antelope Valley: Anthony Avalos and Noah Cuatro. Children are still getting tortured and this is after Gabriel," Hatami said. Palmdale woman, boyfriend sentenced in 8-year-old's torture killing, Antelope Valley torture, child death cases receive new attention with documentary, tribute mural, Gabriel Fernandez case: Court says social workers won't face charges in Palmdale boy's death, Palmdale abuse case: Mother of slain 8-year-old Gabriel Fernandez pleads guilty. One of the most distressing elements of Gabriel's case was that he wrote a suicide note, aged eight. Contreras says Aguirre deserves no mercy, and he says evidence backs him up. The head of DCFS says since Gabriel's death, the system has been overhauled. But she claims that not only did the LAPD not believe the horrific things Gabriel said were happening to him, they told him to stop lying. Young Gabriel Fernandez. In the documentary, Martinez explains that he currently lives in El Salvador after being deported by ICE. Later investigations revealed Rodriguez had never received information detailing previous allegations that Pearl Rodriguez had neglected her other children. "What they did is almost as bad as what Pearl and Isauro did," he said. At least those people are going to do their part and I know that children have been saved due to his story," Contreras said. As seen in the Netflix documentary series, he was kept locked in a cupboard on numerous occasions and suffered unbelievable injuries. Despite this, supervisor Gregory Merritt closed the case. The horrifying murder was detailed in Netflix documentary The Trials of Gabriel Fernandez. Ezekiel was 12 and Virginia was 10 when they witnessed the torture inflicted by their own mother Pearl Fernandez and her boyfriend Isauro Aguirre. R.I.P MICHAEL LEMOS CARRANZA.. It's all those emotions are there. "Something brings it back in. Fernandez was sentenced to life imprisonment, and Aguirro to death, although due to Governor Gavin Newsom suspending all executions while he's in office, he will remain in prison. However, this is a charge Martinez strenuously denies in the Netflix documentary, claiming that the investigation came out of the family's fears that Gabriel was gay. But Contreras says a door opened recently. This weekend marks seven years since parental child abuse took the life of 8-year-old Gabriel Fernandez. Lots of different people unwittingly played a part in allowing one of the worst cases of child torture in American history to unfold. We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you've consented to and to improve our understanding of you. The year after the death of Gabriel, Michael Lemos Carranza also died, though his cause of death at the age of 58 has not been publicly revealed. 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