PALMDALE – A Palmdale couple charged with torturing and murdering the woman’s 8-year-old son appeared in an Antelope Valley courtroom Tuesday for a scheduled arraignment.
Pearl Fernandez, 29, and Isauro Aguirre, 32, did not enter a plea, and their arraignment was delayed yet again, this time until October 7.
Fernandez and Aguirre are each charged with murder with a special circumstance of torture in connection with the deadly beating of 8-year-old Gabriel.
Gabriel died on May 24, two days after he was rushed to the hospital with a fractured skull, cracked ribs, burns and bruises from head to toe. Fernandez admitted to being present while her boyfriend, Aguirre, repeatedly abused Gabriel and caused his injuries in their Palmdale apartment, sheriff’s officials said.
Several neighbors at the couple’s Palmdale apartment complex, in the 200 Block of East Avenue Q-10, said little Gabriel often had bruises on his face, arms and legs. They said he was forced to parade around the complex in girls’ clothing as a form of punishment. (Read more here)
Gabriel’s teacher said she too witnessed the scars from repeated abuse, which included cigarette burns and BB gun bruises to Gabriel’s face. She said she reported it to social workers on many occasions, but no action was taken. (Read more here.)
Gabriel’s plight has sparked outrage throughout the local community, with many residents believing the little boy could have been saved if social workers intervened.
There was a public outcry for firings, and even criminal prosecution, when it was disclosed that social workers had conducted six prior abuse investigations regarding Fernandez, yet Gabriel was not removed from her presence.
Two social workers and two supervising social workers have since been fired by the Department of Children and Family Services for their involvement in Gabriel’s case.
Three additional DCFS workers were either reprimanded or received poor performance ratings in their personnel file, according to L.A. County Supervisor Micheal Antonovich.
Fernandez and Aguirre are each being held without bail in County jail. Prosecutors will decide at a later date whether to seek the death penalty.
UPDATED 10/7/13: The arraignment for Fernandez and Aguirre was postponed yet again, this time until Nov. 19, 2013, according to the Los Angeles District Attorney’s Office.
UPDATED 11/19/13: The arraignment for Fernandez and Aguirre has been postponed again, this time until Jan. 13, 2014, according to the Los Angeles District Attorney’s Office.
UPDATED 1/13/14: The arraignment for Fernandez and Aguirre has been postponed again, this time until Feb. 18, 2014, according to the Los Angeles District Attorney’s Office.
Previous related stories:
Four social workers fired in death of Gabriel
Arraignment postponed for accused child killers
Couple charged with capital murder in death of Palmdale boy
Justice for Gabriel protest, teacher speaks out
Palmdale boy dies after abuse, mother and boyfriend arrested
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sammy p says
Wow they haven’t even had their arraignment yet? I suspect this is not because of prosecutors but is because of the defense needing more time. Were they assigned a public defender or did one of their families cough up enough dough for a private lawyer?
There will most likely be a plea bargain, but it will be a harsh one – he will never be released and she… maybe 20 or 30 years from now.. if she is lucky.
Mr. Mister says
Man, every time I read an update about this case or see photos of Gabriel, it breaks my heart and makes me wet-eyed. This is absolutely tragic and disturbing to say the least. Just beat the two responsible monsters to death as they did him. Leave our justice system out of this one.
disusted says
i feel so badly for this child and what he went through dcfs is so quick to take away children for no reason other than false allegations but yet so quick to leave the children who really need to be taken away in that horrible envionment…..my heart breaks for him and the family that did love him. and for the people who tried to help him but they did all they could and i have the utmost respect and grattitude for them the real people who cared we meed more like themand less like this scum that walks this earth justice will be served i beleive in that
Burgess says
Stop wasting tax payers money and give these pieces of crap poor excuses for a human being the dam electrical chair. And lets keep it moving. All we can do in the name of this poor child is allow his siblings a better life.
justbeingreal says
AMEN !!!! quit wasting our hard earned tax dollars on these POS.
James Sosa says
Just give them the chair !!!