It's all those emotions are there. Gabriel Fernandez: Why did the 4 social workers' case not go to trial? Michael Lemos Carranza was Gabriel Fernandez's great-uncle, with whom Gabriel lived with for the first four years of his life, along with Michael's partner, David Martinez. Gabriel's memory in the household is so painful, they avoid it. Pearl pleaded guilty to first degree murder and was sentenced to life without parole. It is not any easier," Contreras said. I haven't been here [San Salvador] for 38 years. "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. In 2012, when Gabriel was eight-years-old, he was placed in the care of his mother Pearl Fernandez and her partner Isauro Aguirre. They loved being with him and raising him, and Gabriel loved them both very much.. 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. During the trial, Isauro's defence team played his call to 911 when Gabriel stopped breathing. THE uncle of 8-year-old Gabriel Fernandez, who died after years of abuse at the hands of his mother and her boyfriend, has spoken out for the first time since the child's death in 2013. Car loads.". To this day, Contreras says Gabriel's siblings don't let themselves have fun, no matter how much he tries. My Research and Language Selection Sign into My Research Create My Research Account English; Help and support. Young Gabriel Fernandez. But California's governor, citing his personal sense of morality, suspended all executions for as long as he's in office. Gabriel Fernandez was only 8 years old when he was brutally murdered by his mother Pearl and her boyfriend, Isauro Aguirre.And as detailed in Netflix's documentary "The Trials of Gabriel . But despite the grandparents' plea, the defenceless boy was ultimately allowed to stay with Pearl and Isauro after they took him. All Rights Reserved. He takes aim at the Department of Children and Family Services. Gabriel Fernandez: What happened to prosecutor Jon Hatami? Gabriel Fernandez: Did Gabriel Fernandez's parents die? Amid the toys and tender mementos, a call to save children before it is too late. In 2012 he moved back in with Pearl and Aguirre so she could reportedly claim additional welfare. He told the 911 operator he was following her instructions and performing the chest compressions but witnesses in the case threw doubt that he'd actually given the life-saving treatment. "He was my baby," David said. Children are still getting murdered. David Martinez now lives in San Salvador - capital of El Salvador - after being deported from the US by ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement). But Prosecutor Jon Hatami believed Pearl took Gabriel into her custody so she could claim more welfare benefits. He lived with them for about four years, until his grandparents objected to him being cared for by two gay men. "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. The recent Netflix documentary, "The Trials of Gabriel Fernandez". 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. "How many people have named their children after Gabriel, my five year old son's middle name is Gabriel.". 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. Days after Gabriel was born on February 21, 2005, he was placed in the care of his Great Uncle Michael, who was the uncle of Gabriels mother Pearl. He saw how it opened minds and hearts. In the documentary, Gabriel's move at the age of four was because his grandfather Robert Fernandez did not agree with a same-sex couple raising a child. "How many people have named their children after Gabriel, my five year old son's middle name is Gabriel.". The Netflix documentary, "The Trials of Gabriel Fernandez", they watched it together. The series takes a trip to El Salvador in Episode 3 to speak to David Martinez, known to Gabriel as "Uncle David," whose story and relationship to Gabriel highlights the homophobia that was a major factor in the death of the child. We won't post to any of your accounts without asking first. Water gushes for days with no one stopping it, Couple had 'no respect' dumping close to a church, ABC13 viewer says. In the docuseries, David said that Pearl told Michael to "come and get his kid" because he was crying and getting on her nerves. And having never tried to care for him before, why was she showing concern about his mental welfare now? "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. It is not any easier," Contreras said. To this day, Contreras said Gabriel's siblings don't let themselves have fun, no matter how much he tries. Copyright 2023 KABC Television, LLC. Mom of 2, stabbed 8 times, is making most of second chance at life, Whose leak is it anyway? The Trials of Gabriel Fernandez is streaming on Netflix now. Seven years later, his story has traveled worldwide. Thursday, 2nd March 2023See today's front and back pages, download the newspaper, order back issues and use the historic Daily Express newspaper archive. 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.". Later, ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) deported his partner David to El Salvador. They claimed that Gabriel Fernandez was tortured, forced to eat cat Litter and his own vomit. 2023 Vox Media, LLC. We were not allowed to see him, Martinez explained in the doc. "I know that those that have heard or seen his story. Those who knew Gabriel best talked to ABC7 in Los Angeles about the boy. "Something brings it back in. We want to hear from you. 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. To inquire about a licence to reproduce material, visit our Syndication site. According to Jennifer Garcia, Gabriel showed up to class with signs that something terrible had happened at home, and it didn't take long for him to explain. The Most Outrageous True Crime Stories of 2019, 11 True Crime Novels That Every Armchair Detective Will Love, Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window). ; Contact Us Have a question, idea, or some feedback? Robert Fernandez's account of this, however, differs. Seven years later, the boy's story has traveled worldwide, and mourners have had questions. Paramedics had been called out to his house in Los Angeles by his mother Pearl, who claimed over the phone that he had slipped in the bathroom and hit his head. 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. However, Pearl and Aguirre called Gabriel gay and hurt him for acting in manners that they considered feminine. Car loads.". In The Trials of Gabriel Fernandez, Pearl claimed to her parents she took Gabriel into her care as she wanted to bond with her son. When Gabriel was born, drug addict Pearl gave him away to be raised by others saying she didn't love him. It's all those emotions are there. "What they did is almost as bad as what Pearl and Isauro did," added Contreras. "They can't fight for themselves, they can't speak out for themselves. You see his pictures as a baby, he was always smiling. This weekend marks seven years since parental child abuse took the life of 8-year-old Gabriel Fernandez. This marked the start of the worst period of Gabriel's life. The Trials of Gabriel Fernandez is the harrowing six-part documentary series on Netflix about the case of Gabriel Fernandez. "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. "As far as Canada, they come. Tuchel was statesman-like during the most fraught period in Chelsea's recent history. Her theory was that Pearl told authorities that it was bigger boys that were harming her son, not her and her partner. When he was 3 days old, Pearl sent her son to live with Michael. Contreras says he believes Aguirro deserves "no mercy". But they didn't," said Carranza. Unfortunately, they were his last eight months. More info. Contreras received support he never imagined. 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. Im sorry to my children, and I want them to know that I love them.". Please note that this form cannot be used to reset your Google or Facebook password. (Photo by Irfan Khan/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images), Isauro Aguirre was given the death penalty for the murder of Gabriel Fernandez. 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. 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. We convinced her to have Gabriel and for her to give [the baby] to us so we [could] raise it.. The series originally had included the Contreras family, but to allow more time for healing, Contreras requested that their part be taken out. 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. David currently resides in San Salvador, where he was interviewed for the docuseries. 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.". But things could have been so different for Gabriel if hed been allowed to continue living with other relatives. Four Los Angeles County social workers - Stefanie Rodriguez and Patricia Clement along with two supervisors, Kevin Bom and Gregory Merritt were charged in connection with the boy's death. Are Janelle, Christine and Meri Suing Kody Over Money From Coyote Pass? During the last eight months of . THE uncle of 8-year-old Gabriel Fernandez, who died after years of abuse at the hands of his mother and her boyfriend, has spoken out for the first time since the child's death in 2013. "A lot of the family wants to blame just Tony," says Elizabeth Carranza, Gabriel's great-aunt. Ezekiel was 12 and Virginia was 10 when their brother died, and are still haunted by the abuse they were forced to witness in the Palmdale, California residence. Gabriel Fernandez: Where are Gabriel Fernandez brother and sister now? When we got to the hospital the day before, he was still alive, and he was going to talk to me. Instead, they never got the chance. Children are still getting tortured and this is after Gabriel," Hatami said. After having Fernandez, his mom, Pearl, decided she wasn't the right person to raise him. They wanted to prove he performed CPR as the boy was dying. After his teacher notified social workers of the abuse, something could have been done. He takes aim at the Department of Children and Family Services. Is streaming why did gabriel fernandez leave his uncle Netflix now recent Netflix documentary, `` the Trials Gabriel. 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