The Antelope Valley Times

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Homicide detectives investigating suspicious death of 10-year-old Lancaster boy [update: victim ID’d]

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Homicide detectives were still gathering evidence from the scene, several hours after the child was rushed to the hospital. [Image via AV News Crew.]
LANCASTER  – A 10-year-old Lancaster boy taken to the hospital in critical condition has died, prompting a homicide investigation, authorities said.

The incident unfolded around 12 p.m. Wednesday, June 20, when Lancaster Sheriff’s Station deputies responded to an apartment complex in the 1100 block of East Avenue K regarding a “medical rescue call of a 10-year-old boy not breathing,” according to a news release from the Sheriff’s Information Bureau.

“Upon arrival, the victim was discovered in his family’s apartment unresponsive. The victim was reported to have suffered injuries from a fall.  He was transported to a nearby hospital,” the news release states.

“Although the victim survived through the night, tragically, he succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead at 6:30 a.m. [Thursday, June 21]… The death is considered suspicious and the cause will be investigated by the Coroner’s office,” the news release states.

Seven children, ranging in age from 11 months to 12 years old, who either lived at the home or were associated with the victim’s family, were removed from the home “pending further investigation,” according to the sheriff’s news release.

“This is an active investigation and no arrests have been made,” the news release states.

The Sheriff’s Homicide Bureau and Special Victims Bureau are handling the investigation. No further information was immediately available.

Anyone with information about this incident is encouraged to contact the Los Angeles County Sheriff Department’s Homicide Bureau at 323-890-5500. To remain anonymous, call Crime Stoppers at 800-222-TIPS (8477).

UPDATE: The victim was identified by the Department of Children and Family Services as 10-year-old Anthony Avalos. An autopsy to determine his cause of death is pending. Authorities had contact with the family “prior to this incident,” sheriff’s spokeswoman Nicole Nishida told the Los Angeles Times.

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42 comments for "Homicide detectives investigating suspicious death of 10-year-old Lancaster boy [update: victim ID’d]"

  1. These comments are crazy that [removed] did it and god knows so she well get what coming to her R. I. P lil man your free now

  2. There was yelling and fighting at the little boys vigil they were all acting like maniacs.they are all disgusting pple.

  3. Just another ho-hum child abuse death in the overwhelmed DCFS area known as the antelope valley.

    • Man, you were gone so long I had almost stopped hoping to hear that you fell out of a helicopter…though I figured some of the Mike posts were probably you.

    • I’m sorry, Shane. After mulling over what I wrote in my previous reply, I realized it was wrong to wish bodily injury or death upon you because of our political and social disagreements. That would make me a horrible person. Again, sincerest apologies.

      • If I thought Shane deserved an apology I’d write it myself. If you are going to successfully pretend to be me you are gonna have to try a lot harder to stay somewhere close to in character.

        I feel bad about the firemen who were shot recently. It would have been a lot better if that guy had just smoked Dubey instead.

  5. Every one of you verbal vigilantes, who couldn’t care less about due process, are a disgrace.

  6. Every one of you can’t wait to condemn, before the investigation has been completed! you’re all a bunch of verbal vigilantes that use the comment section to bypass due process, and issue a guilty verdict.

  7. The boys paternal grandmother stated that the mother and the boyfriend were both abusive to the kid and they had already made reports and nothing was done .

  8. May he rest in peace. If his death turns out to be abuse, more likely than not, the boyfriend is the cause and the mother failed to protect him.

    In my 47 years, 98% of “boyfriends” are p.o.s.’s that will abuse the children in the home and single out one to beat on or worse.

    To all single mothers – don’t hook up with a guy that doesn’t have his own place, a job or his own car. And you can’t trust any guy around your kids, and Im speaking from my own experience, no matter if you’ve been with him for years. Its a sad truth but 90% of guys are pos’s – NEVER let some fool come into your home and start running sh#@!

    • Or maybe YOU just associate yourself with POS’s and that’s YOUR experience because the males I know are great men

  9. This is just sick. What is people coming too like fr why does mom’s or boyfriend’s have to kill an innocent child they didn’t ask to be in this world but they have to pay the price like come on people grow tf up and realize if you kill a child it will ruin your life at the end cause sooner or later they will figure out that you have something to do with it you know…

  10. Wow You ppl. I pray this is not abuse. Let’s wait for the evidence and investigation to complete. HOWEVER, take the remaining children into protective custody just in case.

    • So, I suppose this little boy burnt himself with cigarettes, all over his body? Really, no abuse?

  11. OMG… Really, another story similar to Gabriel Fernandez, same circumstances?
    Let’s start collecting the names of the Social Workers in charge of this case, and Failed to protect this Kid.
    On Gabriel Fernandez’s case, 3 Social Workers were sentenced and they are serving time for failing to do their work, which his to protect the Kids.

  12. “Not enough evidence”… So, CPS has to wait until they receive reports of a dead child, before, they can do anything? Either, CPS never learns by past cases, or, they just don’t give a damn, as, government employees, or, as human beings! I live everyday in fear for my 11 year old grandson. His mother is terminally ill and her disease affects her brain. She is still driving with him in the car, after numerous reports to the CPS and to the DMV! She has an unnatural obsession with him and literally holds him “hostage” away from all, other family members! A CPS worker went out to check on him and she refused to allow him entry into her home. The worker said, “It made him somewhat suspicious”. He never spoke to the older child in the home! Nothing else has been done to protect him!! We have a flawed system!! There’s no money in protecting children!

  13. The child’s aunt says the family reported the mother many times to CPS and they never did anything. Another responded to the aunt that they know she called many times and CPS just said there wasn’t enough evidence to remove the children.
    The news is saying it was due to a fall because that is what the mother told them and they are investigating it and cannot say otherwise at this time. Obviously they have record of calls to CPS and that is why they are investigating it as a homicide.
    I’m heart broken for the family, his brothers and sisters must be so devastated, I can only imagine what they witnessed and have been through. It’s such a sad situation. Praying for the family!

  14. You guys act like y’all know so much. They are being investigated stop bashing her and her live in boyfriend! She was a great mother and her fat ass sister in law needs to stop trying to feed off her hatred towards her seriously May he Rest In Peace and honestly of you don’t know [removed] don’t say [removed]. Just to throw dirt on people when it involves a child DYING

    • Why u defending monsters if she was a great mother why did her kid die? U she shouldn’t have so many kids if she can’t handle the stress and to care for them. Stop trying to cover up for some female who killed her own kid you are disgusting just like that female.

    • “A Great Mother” ?! She murdered Anthony!
      She failed Anthony! She should end her existence, she does not deserve to be alive!
      She is NOT a Great Mother, she is a Great Monster. 8 children, all abused physically and sexually. Anthony’s body was covered in bruises, cigarette burns,he had severe head trauma, he and his siblings were starved, forced to stay in confined spaces, the list of cruelty and neglect goes on.
      Anthony’s short 10 years of life was a horror. May he find peace in heaven, sweet baby Angel.
      You are a POS for defending those monster’s.

  15. Healthy 10 year olds don’t just die. Died from a fall? Who is supervising? I’m going to speculate that “mom” probably made the older kids supervise and someone’s carelessness caused this 10 year old boys death.
    Accidental fall? Yeah right! I really hope this investigation will give the truth.

    • Oh wait… so there is more to the story.
      Family members reported abuse several times against mother & mother’s live in boyfriend.
      Another child failed by the system!

  16. Not jumping to assumption although it is being investigated as a homicide if the mother is to blame for his death then this is why people should be evaluated mentally, drug tested and have a stable place to raise one. Before they could be allowed to breed. Or they should be banned to even be able to at all. To many woman have to many babies just because they couldn’t protect every time they wanted sex and got pregnant just for sex not wanting to be a mom but keeps getting pregnant and then raising babies with no love or respect or care and we have this happen or future murders made. It’s sad. Rip baby boy

  17. The child is dead.
    And I have 10 kids.At times a single mom.
    I never killed or abused my children.
    This isn’t about birth control.

  18. Who gives a [removed] if People here know her! I seriously just read someone defend the mom. A child died in her presence! What the heck could she have been doing for this to happen? Nothing is more important than your kids! Regardless of media! On what’s real or fake That poor child is dead! And that’s a fact And it was under her roof! She’s either psycho or careless! You dare to defend her! Then that makes sense why you know her ! One in the same!

    • Oh give it a rest. As currently reported, the child died as the result of a fall.

      That’s being investigated, because lots of people have claimed falls as the cause of injuries in abuse situations. But that doesn’t mean that falls never really happen.

      If you think that your kids were so totally under your thumb every second that there is no way they could ever fall down then I feel sorry for your kids. “Either psycho or careless.” What a crock.

  19. To judge others is human, to keep your opinions about others to yourself is having class.

    Judging a person does not define who they are, it defines who you are.

  21. 8 KIDS – LOW INCOME 3 BEDROOM APARTMENT – HOT WEATHER- SINGLE MOTHER-WELFARE

    NEVER A GOOD COMBO. SHE SHOULD HAVE BEEN FORCED TO GET ON BIRTH CONTROL . ITS DEVASTATING THAT AN ANGEL HAD TO DIE TO MAKE CPS AND THE GOV. TAKE HER AND THE KIDS.
    IF YOU HAVE FRIENDS WITH ALOT OF KIDS AND THEYRE SINGLE . HELP THEM ! EVEN IF YOU HAVE TO TAKE HALF OF THE KIDS OUT . YOU NEVER KNOW WHEN THAT LITTLE ESCAPE CAN SAVE A LIFE . GOD BLESS WHOEVER READS THIS AND DOES IT .

    • And you should be ashamed of yourself, that has absolutely nothing to do with his death.. and if you can read he says, lived or associated with!! You dumb ass

        • There was a total of 8 kids living in the home it does not mean they are necessarily her kids.

      • You must have a lot of children . And yes I do know Of her so I know more than what media is saying .

      • Moe is right, in his assessment.
        IMO, no welfare mother should birth eight children. Not on a taxpayers dime.
        There should be a limit……..two……….then, sterilized. Yes, sterilized.
        Sorry , folks. Just my opinion.

        • To assume she is on welfare just because…..her nationality? Her looks? Whatever you used to determine that fact makes you an asshole!! What does being on welfare have to do with her and her boyfriend killing her son????? Ignorance is bliss!! Smdh

    • Really birth control is your suggestion. Wow. Let’s 1st find out what happen before tossing around stones.

  22. OMG there has to be something done to the animal or animals that does this kind of things to children. Tougher laws needed. Or maybe an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth. RIP young man.

    • Ya it does!! Or creepy parents that have children just to lock them up like animals!!! Sick low life people!!!!