Four had been charged but the appeals court dismissed the case ruling that the workers did not have a legal responsibility to care for a child the way a parent did. "Part of knowing how to do CPR is that you don't stop until the paramedics showed up," said Jon Hatami, the prosecutor in Gabriel's case. We convinced her to have Gabriel and for her to give [the baby] to us so we [could] raise it., The couple raised the little boy until he was 4 years old. The Netflix documentary, "The Trials of Gabriel Fernandez", they watched it together. Gabriel with his grandparents, Sandra and Robert Fernandez, before he was made to live with his murderous mum Credit: Netflix When Gabriel was born, drug addict Pearl gave him away to be raised by . The head of DCFS says since Gabriel's death, the system has been overhauled. They loved being with him and raising him, and Gabriel loved them both very much.. Martinez says of the claims: "The allegations were false, we never sexually abused Gabriel at all. He'd said he was going to take Gabriel to a barbecue, but they later found out he'd lied. "When her and Tony would fight, she was the abusive one to him.". Isauro, however, denied the charge, and was ultimately sentenced to death in 2018 he's now on death row. The Trials of Gabriel Fernandez: The Tragic Story of Gabriel's Uncle Michael, objected to him being cared for by two gay men. Monster mum Pearl and her partner Isauro, who was also known as "Tony", were both convicted for the horrors they inflicted on Gabriel. For him, it's personal. In 2009 he moved in with his grandparents; his grandfather deciding that Gabriel should not be brought up by two gay men. We were not that type of parents. His memory has generated positive steps to save children. Unfortunately, they were his last eight months. You need to care," said Deputy District Attorney Jon Hatami. "A lot of the family wants to blame just Tony," says Elizabeth Carranza, Gabriel's great-aunt. Gabriel Fernandez: What happened to Gabriel Fernandezs parents? However, medical staff instantly realised it was much worse as they noticed injuries covering his entire body. Aguirre was sentenced to death. This is despite LA County District Attorney Jackie Lacey previously telling NBC Los Angeles she stood by the charges, stating: There ought to be some criminal consequences.. 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.. He and his wife adopted Gabriel's siblings, the walking wounded. In Spanish, he can be heard saying: "They want me to plead guilty to something I haven't done. "Unfortunately, I think this is something that's going to affect them the rest of their lives. The dismissal, says Contreras, was as wrong as what happened earlier. When Gabriel died, there was a Department of Child and Family Services investigation opened against Martinez and Carranza, looking into a claim that the pair had sexually abused Gabriel. The head of DCFS says since Gabriel's death, the system has been overhauled. The series originally had included the Contreras family, but to allow more time for healing, Contreras requested that their part be taken out. Mourners have had questions. Living in a household gripped by fear. 1M views 2 years ago It has been seven years since parental child abuse took the life of 8-year-old Gabriel Fernandez. They would take him everywhere, he would always be clean and happy. If you knew Pearl, Pearl was never the victim. I don't know what the country's about at all. Speaking in the documentary, David Martinez explained how they came to raise Gabriel in the first place. Four had been charged but the appeals court dismissed the case ruling that the workers did not have a legal responsibility to care for a child the way a parent did. The horrifying murder was detailed in Netflix documentary The Trials of Gabriel Fernandez. 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. In the docuseries, David said that Pearl told Michael to "come and get his kid" because he was crying and getting on her nerves. "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. The Trials of Gabriel Fernandez is streaming now on Netflix. To inquire about a licence to reproduce material, visit our Syndication site. They wanted to prove he performed CPR as the boy was dying. For him, it's personal. Those who knew Gabriel best talked to ABC7 about the boy. We convinced her to have Gabriel and for her to give [the baby] to us so we [could] raise it., Its alleged Pearl showed no affection for her baby, allegedly calling Michael and saying: Come and get your kid, hes getting on my nerves already.. Gavin Newsom, citing his personal sense of morality, suspended all executions for as long as he's in office. At her sentencing, she said: "Every day I wish that Id made better choices. Gabri Car loads.". The proposal is pushed by Gabriel's cousin Emily Carranza who pins blame on Gabriel's social workers. At least those people are going to do their part and I know that children have been saved due to his story," Contreras said. Despite this, supervisor Gregory Merritt closed the case. Gabriel's uncle Chris Contreras is breaking his silence. She told filmmaker Brian Knappenberger: [Michael Lemos Carranza and David Martinez] were both very good with him. 2023 Vox Media, LLC. To this day, Contreras says Gabriel's siblings don't let themselves have fun, no matter how much he tries. Michael had raised and cared for Gabriel in the early years of his life, alongside his partner David Martinez. "They can't fight for themselves, they can't speak out for themselves," said Deputy District Attorney Jon Hatami. One way or another," Contreras said. I will love him until I die.". Mom of 2, stabbed 8 times, is making most of second chance at life, Whose leak is it anyway? He and his wife adopted Gabriel's siblings, the walking wounded. David also revealed Pearl apparently told Michael to come and get his kid because he was getting on her nerves, at just three-days-old. Gabriel's memory in the household is so painful, they avoid it. The docuseries briefly goes into Gabriel's time under their care, years before his mother, Pearl, and her boyfriend, Isauro Aguirre, brutally killed the 8-year-old. But they didn't," said Carranza. Aguirre was sentenced to death. "Something brings it back in. Before living with his grandparents and dying under his mother's custody, Gabriel Fernandez resided with his great-uncle Michael Lemos Carranza and Michael's partner, David Martinez. Gabriel died in intensive care after being savagely beaten and tortured at his home in Palmdale, Los Angeles County, by Pearl Fernandez and her partner Isauro Aguirro. Though the uncles confronted Fernandezs grandfather, Martinez says Robert believed that being raised by two gay men was making the little boy gay, so the grandparents decided to raise him themselves. 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. Gabriel Fernandez: What happened to prosecutor Jon Hatami? The Trials of Gabriel Fernandez is streaming on Netflix now. RELATED: Palmdale mother gets life prison term, boyfriend sentenced to death in 8-year-old's torture-killing. Heartwarming footage in the documentary showcases pictures of Michael, David and Gabriel playing together and celebrating Christmas. Before Gabriel Fernandez returned to his mother Pearl Fernandez, he was brought up by his Great uncle Michael Lemos Carranza and his grandparents. 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. It would give an officer on an abuse call a way to quickly check for DCFS history and alert the caseworker. They also locked the helpless child in a cupboard that the family would disturbingly call "the box" and forced him to eat cat faeces all because they thought he was gay. Every question put his way was handled with a blend of authority and empathy. In the documentary, Gabriels move at the age of four was because his grandfather Robert Fernandez did not agree with a same-sex couple raising a child. After Gabriel's death, Robert and Sandra Fernandez filed a claim against Los Angeles Country, the LA DCFS, Gabriel's school district, the sheriff's office and many more organizations involved. Gabriel's memory in the household is so painful, they avoid it. But despite the grandparents' plea, the defenceless boy was ultimately allowed to stay with Pearl and Isauro after they took him. Gabriel Fernandez: Why did the 4 social workers' case not go to trial? After his teacher notified social workers of the abuse, something could have been done. "I hear a few people say she was a victim, and didn't know how to get out of it. ; Contact Us Have a question, idea, or some feedback? All Rights Reserved. During the trial of Isauro Aguirre, Robert testified that that one day his daughter took Gabriel and refused to bring him back. Robert keeps on saying, 'ah, because he says that he loves you guys, you two fa*****'". After having Fernandez, his mom, Pearl, decided she wasn't the right person to raise him. The dismissal, says Contreras, was as wrong as what happened earlier. Following this, Martinez was deported by Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE) back to his native El Salvador. In a suit Robert Fernandez brought against the county of Los Angeles with his wife Sandra after the death of Gabriel, the couple allege that they always had custody of the child. 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. A new voice joined the outcry. A post on the Gabriels Justice Facebook page from September 2014 reads: It is with a heavy heart and tears, that I inform you.. Today my beloved cousin Michael has passed away today. In Netflixs documentary, Michaels partner David Martinez recalls: She didnt want him and the family didnt want her to have him. His memory has generated positive steps to save children. He takes aim at the Department of Children and Family Services. A new voice joined the outcry. "I would show everybody that picture of Gabriel in the hospital. Gabriel's mother, Pearl Fernandez, and her boyfriend, Isauro Aguirre, were ultimately convicted of first-degree murder in the boy's death, with Pearl now serving a life sentence and Aguirre being held on death row after a jury found the boy suffered unprecedented abuse at the hands of his guardians who had custody of Gabriel for less than a year. We were not allowed to see him, Martinez explained in the doc. Gabriel Fernandez was born to a mother, Pearl Fernandez, that didn't know how to love him. Gabriel Fernandez: Which other cases were tried in same LA courtroom? It's all those emotions are there. Copyright 2023 KABC Television, LLC. He actually spent the first four years of his life living with his great-uncle Michael Lemos Carranza and his partner, David Martinez. In an interview with ABC7, Contreras finally broke his silence, to mark the seven years since Gabriel's deaeth. You need to care.". According to Pearl's great-aunt Elizabeth Carranza, both men loved Gabriel very much. And there's momentum for "Gabriel's Law." One way or another," Contreras said. Instead, the little boy was left to suffer and die at the hands of his own caregivers, as the city of Los Angeles turned a blind eye. Or by navigating to the user icon in the top right. "Unfortunately, I think this is something that's gonna affect them the rest of their lives. Contreras received support he never imagined. Eventually, Pearl took Gabriel from his grandparents eight months before his death on May 24, 2013. Later, ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) deported his partner David to El Salvador. Sadly Michael died in 2014, just 16 months after Gabriel. Contreras says he believes Aguirro deserves "no mercy". Gabriel Fernandez, eight, died in Los Angeles at the hand of his mother and stepdad after social workers allegedly failed to act Gabriel's two siblings were adopted by their uncle, Chris Contreras and his wife. For him, it's personal. 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.". "How many people have named their children after Gabriel, my five year old son's middle name is Gabriel.". Gabriel was repeatedly beaten and tortured by his evil mother and her partner before he died in 2013 - all because they thought he was gay. But two people - his great uncle and his partner - did care for him. Gavin Newsom, citing his personal sense of morality, suspended all executions for as long as he's in office. However, the cause of death remains unknown. Children are still getting murdered. For further details of our complaints policy and to make a complaint please click this link: thesun.co.uk/editorial-complaints/, Gabriel Fernandez was just eight years old when he was tortured to death by his mum and her boyfriend, Pearl Fernandez was given life without parole for her part in the crimes - Isauro Aguirro was sentenced to death, Christene Estes wept as she remembered cataloguing little Gabriel's endless list of injuries, When paramedics found Gabriel they thought he had a severe skin disease because there were so many injuries all over his body, Family members think Pearl may have masterminded the more sadistic torture of her son, Gabriel with his grandparents, Sandra and Robert Fernandez, before he was made to live with his murderous mum, Isauro Aguirre was sentenced to death after he pleaded not guilty to murdering Gabriel, Prosecutors at the trial wondered why there was no blood on Isauro when paramedics arrived given the extent of Gabriel's injuries, Social workers Patricia Clement, Stefanie Rodriguez, Gregory Merritt and Kevin Bom were charged with child endangerment resulting in death, One of the suspicious notes Pearl showed counsellor Carmen Le Norgant, Gabriel Fernandez gave Mothers Day card to Pearl days before she and partner tortured him to death, eight-year-old Gabriel had suffered tremendously, Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO). I confront him, and say 'why did you say that, you didn't want him to be born, you didn't want him when he was born, nobody in the family wanted him.'". The dismissal, says Contreras, was as wrong as what happened earlier. For other inquiries, Contact Us. ", Get the biggest TV headlines, recaps and insider knowledge straight to your inbox. ", Love Island fans' horror as axed Olivia handed power to destroy TWO other stars, Frogmore eviction shows King's drawn a line with Harry, Strictly star bags life-changing EastEnders role as part of new family, Baby's body found after huge search as cops quiz Constance Marten & lover, News Group Newspapers Limited in England No. It would give an officer on an abuse call a way to quickly check for DCFS history and alert the caseworker. Netflix's hit true crime show The Trials of Gabriel Fernandez mostly takes place in and around Palmdale, California, where the torture and brutal murder of the 8-year-old Gabriel Fernandez took place. 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. Ezekiel was 12 and Virginia was 10 when they witnessed the torture inflicted by their own mother Pearl Fernandez and her boyfriend Isauro Aguirre. PALMDALE, Calif. -- This weekend marks seven years since parental child abuse took the life of 8-year-old Gabriel Fernandez. "I love you so much that I will kill myself", it read. David maintains that this allegation is false, as did some members of Gabriel's family. "They can . One of the most distressing elements of Gabriel's case was that he wrote a suicide note, aged eight. In the doc, he says, "ICE got hold of me. "They put him in the back of the car and told him that if he kept lying about things, that he would be the one to go to jail," Elizabeth said. Email In Touch at contact@intouchweekly.com. Isauro is currently on death row at San Quentin Prison and Pearl is incarcerated at Chowchilla Womens Prison, both in California. "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. Your guess is just as good as mine. But Contreras says a door opened recently. 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. Social worker Stefanie Rodriguez and other representatives of child protection agencies also visited Gabriel's home on a number of occasions. He was declared brain dead and taken off life support two days later. The Trials of Gabriel Fernandez details the horrendous abuse Gabriel endured, which also included forcing him to eat cat faeces, burning him with cigarettes and locking him in a cabinet. It is not any easier," Contreras said. R.I.P MICHAEL LEMOS CARRANZA.. They closed their eyes and didnt see nothing?," he said. While 19-stone security guard Isauro was known to have beaten four stone Gabriel unconscious, Pearl's relatives suspect she was really the boss when it came to some of the most horrific torture. The couple watched the Netflix documentary "The Trials of Gabriel Fernandez.". In Touch Weekly is part of the a360media Entertainment Group.Copyright a360media 2023. "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. Gabriel Fernandez: Who is Gabriel Fernandezs biological father. In the early years of his life he lived with his Great Uncle but why did this change? According to the LA Times, Robert and Sandra claimed they warned cops that Pearl had a history of abuse with her other children but they allowed Gabriel to stay with her anyway. "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. There was no question that eight-year-old Gabriel had suffered tremendously, but there are many unanswered questions as to how his evil parents were able to get away with torturing him for so long. PALMDALE, Calif. -- This weekend marks seven years since parental child abuse. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. Aguirre was found guilty of the same crime and was given the death penalty. In the autumn of 2013 his great uncle led a memorial mass at a Los Angeles church. As for where Michael is now, unfortunately, Gabriel's great uncle has passed away. By clicking Sign Up, you agree to our Terms and Conditions and that you have read our Privacy Policy. The social workers were there. 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