"I hear a few people say she was a victim, and didn't know how to get out of it. 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. All Rights Reserved. I haven't been here [San Salvador] for 38 years. He said: She [Pearl] didnt want him and the family didnt want her to have him. We use your sign-up to provide content in the ways you've consented to and improve our understanding of you. It is not any easier," Contreras said. 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. Car loads.". I remember his throat just looked like somebody had burned him, bruising and cuts all over his face, black eyes He had like a weird cut above his penis, he had abrasions on the top of his foot like hed been dragged. ", Get the biggest TV headlines, recaps and insider knowledge straight to your inbox. He saw how it opened minds and hearts. My Research and Language Selection Sign into My Research Create My Research Account English; Help and support. But Contreras says a door opened recently. Gabriel Fernandez: Why did the 4 social workers' case not go to trial? After having Fernandez, his mom, Pearl, decided she wasn't the right person to raise him. Why are you guys saying that?' The proposal is pushed by Gabriel's cousin Emily Carranza who pins blame on Gabriel's social workers. Children are still getting murdered. One way or another," Contreras said. "It's. This means that we may include adverts from us and third parties based on our knowledge of you. "Children are still getting killed. RELATED: Gabriel Fernandez case: Court says social workers won't face charges in Palmdale boy's death. But Gov. He and his wife adopted Gabriel's siblings, the walking wounded. David Martinez now lives in San Salvador - capital of El Salvador - after being deported from the US by ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement). They loved being with him and raising him, and Gabriel loved them both very much.. For the final eight months of his life, Gabriel suffered extreme abuse at the hands of his mother Pearl and Isauro. Children are still getting murdered. The Los Angeles DA stated that Aguirre frequently beat Gabriel because he thought the boy was gay. The power for change, Hatami says, is reflected in a growing memorial. But his grandparents, Robert and Sandra Fernandez, say they always had custody of Gabriel and eventually took him in themselves. In Pearl's custody, someone called to report that they thought Gabriel was molested by his uncle, but no one has confirmed this allegation. 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. 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. The children testified about the bat, the BB guns, the box where Gabriel was confined, and accusations that he was gay. Ms Estes also describes how they found a BB gun pellet in Gabriel's lung, and even one in his groin, signalling he'd been shot in both places. A position rejected by Hatami. To see all content on The Sun, please use the Site Map. 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. Aguirre was found guilty of the same crime and was given the death penalty. Those who knew Gabriel best talked to ABC7 about the boy. "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. Contreras said Aguirre deserves no mercy, and he said evidence backs him up. 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. PALMDALE, California -- This weekend marks seven years since parental child abuse took the life of 8-year-old Gabriel Fernandez. "It's all those emotions are there. (Photo by Irfan Khan/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images). Gabriel was first given to his great uncles, Michael Lemos Carranza and his partner David Martinez, where he spent around four years. One of the most distressing elements of Gabriel's case was that he wrote a suicide note, aged eight. Check out Bay Area safety tracker, Tracking the drought: Map shows conditions across SF Bay Area, Bay Area Life; Sundays at 6:30 p.m. on ABC7, Palmdale mother gets life prison term, boyfriend sentenced to death in 8-year-old's torture-killing, Slain SoCal boy pepper-sprayed in face, forced to eat cat feces, brother testifies, Slain SoCal boy had BB lodged in his groin area, nurse testifies, Palmdale abuse case: Mother of slain 8-year-old Gabriel Fernandez pleads guilty. One way or another," Contreras said. 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. Those who knew Gabriel best talked to ABC7 about the boy. Christene Estes, a nurse who treated Gabriel in the hours before his death in May 2013, says the abuse he suffered was worse than anything else she'd ever seen. All rights reserved. However, medical staff instantly realised it was much worse as they noticed injuries covering his entire body. This weekend marks seven years since parental child abuse took the life of 8-year-old Gabriel Fernandez. The Trials of Gabriel Fernandez is the harrowing six-part documentary series on Netflix about the case of Gabriel Fernandez. The power for change, Hatami said, is reflected in a growing memorial. 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. The Netflix documentary, "The Trials of Gabriel Fernandez", they watched it together. His memory has generated positive steps to save children. Email us at exclusive@the-sun.com or call 212 416 4552. 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 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. "Unfortunately, I think this is something that's gonna affect them the rest of their lives. Gabriel Fernandez was enrolled in the local school, Summerwind Elementary, where he had an unusual question for his first-grade teacher. 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 head of DCFS says since Gabriel's death, the system has been overhauled. "As far as Canada, they come. It is not any easier.". As Garcia described Gabriel's progress in her class, Fernandez blurted out of nowhere, "I don't hit my kids." "Oh OK," said Garcia. Isauro didn't have blood on his hands or anywhere on his body, which was strange given the amount all over Gabriel when paramedics found him. Children are still getting tortured and this is after Gabriel," Hatami said. 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. 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. "The Sun", "Sun", "Sun Online" are registered trademarks or trade names of News Group Newspapers Limited. But when they arrived, Isauro wasn't performing CPR. On September 13, 2018, a Los Angeles County judge denied a motion to dismiss felony child abuse and falsification of records charges against four former child welfare caseworkers in the 2013 death of eight-year-old Gabriel Fernandez. PALMDALE, Calif. -- This weekend marks seven years since parental child abuse. Instead, she gave him to her uncle Carranza (Fernandez's great-uncle) and his partner, David. Those who knew Gabriel best talked to ABC7 in Los Angeles about the boy. Contreras received support he never imagined. They need somebody else to do it, but especially during this time. We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you've consented to and to improve our understanding of you. Amid the toys and tender mementos, a call to save children before it is too late. Isauro, however, denied the charge, and was ultimately sentenced to death in 2018 he's now on death row. Ezekiel was 12 and Virginia was 10 when they witnessed the torture inflicted by their own mother Pearl Fernandez and her boyfriend Isauro Aguirre. 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. He takes aim at the Department of Children and Family Services. 1M views 2 years ago It has been seven years since parental child abuse took the life of 8-year-old Gabriel Fernandez. Here's all that we know about Michael and his partner, who too had tragic fates. They would take him everywhere, he would always be clean and happy. 2023 Vox Media, LLC. During the trial, Isauro's defence team played his call to 911 when Gabriel stopped breathing. With Michael and David, Gabriel lived happily in a loving, family environment, with his great uncle and partner throwing birthday parties for him and showing him with love. "Unfortunately, I think this is something that's going to affect them the rest of their lives. "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. The head of DCFS says since Gabriel's death, the system has been overhauled. Car loads.". He was my baby. Something went wrong, please try again later. 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.. "How many people have named their children after Gabriel, my five year old son's middle name is Gabriel.". Young Gabriel Fernandez. The proposal is pushed by Gabriel's cousin Emily Carranza who pins blame on Gabriel's social workers. There was not a single misstep from the German - and that, at least partly, is why he remains beloved by supporters despite leaving the club in September. [EXPLAINER]Gabriel Fernandez: Who is Michael Lemos Carranza? Seven years later, Gabriel's story has traveled worldwide. Mourners have had questions. It's all those emotions are there. But Prosecutor Jon Hatami believed Pearl took Gabriel into her custody so she could claim more welfare benefits. Gabri During the last eight months of his life, Gabriel was the victim of child abuse which e -------------------------------------------------------------------------Please Click SubscribeTV News, Previews, Spoilers, Casting Scoop, Interviews, Television News, Ratings, TV Show Reviews, TV - News, Pictures, Videos, Entertainment, #GabrielFernandezWhy, #GabrielFernandez, #leave, #GreatUncle, #care#Netflix Gabriel only lived with his mother for eight months of his life. David currently resides in San Salvador, where he was interviewed for the docuseries. According to a cousin who runs a Facebook page in the little boys honor, Carranza passed away in September 2014, a year and a half after Fernandezs death in May 2013. The Trials of Gabriel Fernandez is a full brown reveal of the life and death of an eight. "Something brings it back in. Sick mum Pearl Fernandez and her partner Isauro Aguirre beat Gabriel with a belt and burned him with cigarettes, sometimes in front of his siblings. RELATED: Palmdale abuse case: Mother of slain 8-year-old Gabriel Fernandez pleads guilty, Jupiter and Venus appear to 'kiss' in the sky, FL Gov. His cause of death is not known. Gabriel Fernandez: Is Pearl Fernandez still in prison? He didnt look like a child," she says. After his teacher notified social workers of the abuse, something could have been done. 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. It is not any easier," Contreras said. Seven years later, Gabriel's story has traveled worldwide. Seven years later, the boy's story has traveled worldwide, and mourners have had questions. A position rejected by Hatami. They want me to plead guilty to something I haven't done. Fernandez lived with Robert and Sandra until he was 7, at which point Pearl and Aguirre took him back. He now lives in the country's capital San Salvador, where his interviews for The Trials of Gabriel Fernandez took place. In an interview with ABC7, Contreras finally broke his silence, to mark the seven years since Gabriel's deaeth. They would take him everywhere, he would always be clean and happy. Gabriel's memory in the household is so painful, they avoid it. For him, it's personal. You need to care," said Deputy District Attorney Jon Hatami. But there's speculation that the note found was part of an unimaginably despicable plan to kill Gabriel and get away with it. Pearl Fernandez gave birth to Gabriel on February 21 2005, but within days had given him up to her uncle, Michael Lemos Carranza, and his partner, David Martinez. In 2012 he moved back in with Pearl and Aguirre so she could reportedly claim additional welfare. During the last eight months of . She contemplated abortion on several occasions and would have gone through with it had her uncle had not convinced her to have the baby. "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. And what did they do? In an interview with ABC7, Contreras finally broke his silence, to mark the seven years since Gabriel's deaeth. It's all those emotions are there. Please note that this form cannot be used to reset your Google or Facebook password. 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. Claim more welfare benefits I have n't done ABC7 about the case of Gabriel.! Adopted Gabriel 's death English ; Help and support Robert and Sandra until he interviewed. Best talked to ABC7 about the bat, the walking wounded all content on the Sun, use... The Trials of Gabriel and eventually took him back Unfortunately, I think this is that!, I think this is something that 's going to affect them the rest of their lives Department of and! 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