LANCASTER – A Lancaster woman and her boyfriend were charged Friday with murdering her 10-year-old son, who died last week a day after authorities were summoned to the home.
Heather Maxine Barron, 28, and Kareem Ernesto Leiva, 32, are charged with one count each of murder and torture in connection with Anthony Avalos’ death.
Barron is also charged with one count of child abuse, while Leiva is facing one count of assault on a child causing death.
The two are accused of torturing the boy in the days leading up to his June 21 death, according to prosecutors.
If convicted as charged, Barron could face up to 22 years to life in state prison and Leiva could face a maximum of 32 years to life in prison, according to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office.
Leiva was booked Thursday by sheriff’s deputies after being treated for an apparently self-inflicted laceration to his upper chest area.
The sheriff’s department confirmed that Barron had been arrested, but did not immediately disclose details of when or where she was taken into custody.
The boy died at a hospital on June 21. Deputies and paramedics had responded to a 911 call from his mother about 12:15 p.m. on June 20 and found the boy unresponsive inside his family’s apartment. Authorities said they were told the child had suffered injuries from a fall, but investigators quickly classified the death as “suspicious.”
At a news conference hours before the criminal charges were announced, the boy’s family demanded answers about how social workers handled the boy’s case.
Attorney Brian Claypool was joined by a handful of the child’s relatives outside the Department of Children and Family Services office in Lancaster.
“We’ve been told there were 16 reports of suspected child abuse,” Claypool said. “One of the reasons we’re here today is we want to find out: Did LA County DCFS go to the home on all those 16 occasions? Did they visit the home, or simply make a phone call? Then, what kind of follow-up happened?”
On Tuesday, the Board of Supervisors approved a motion by Supervisor Kathryn Barger calling for a thorough review of why Anthony wasn’t removed from his family home, despite a dozen reports to the DCFS between 2013-16, including a substantiated allegation of sexual abuse by a grandparent when the boy was 4 years old.
“You had teachers, you had family members, you had law enforcement come in contact. And yet, Anthony’s at the morgue; we’re awaiting autopsy results,” Barger said. “One has to wonder what it’s going to take to get the attention of not only the social workers, but the public in general, because I’m told that neighbors also were aware of what was taking place.”
“As all agencies work tirelessly to get to the bottom of what happened, each day brings to light new updates and information about Anthony’s senseless death,” according to a statement released by DCFS Director Bobby Cagle. “While we cannot comment on an ongoing criminal investigation, we are committed to cooperating with our law enforcement partners. I reiterate my deep commitment to seeing justice done on behalf of this innocent child. Our hearts go out to those that have been so deeply affected by this tragedy.”
Barger and other county officials repeatedly said that they would wait for all the facts to come in before drawing conclusions about exactly what happened to the boy. However, Barger called it a “senseless murder,” explaining that “we don’t have a conclusion, but there’s no other explanation.”
Barger noted that 8-year-old Gabriel Fernandez of Palmdale was beaten to death in 2013 by his mother’s live-in boyfriend, despite multiple calls to DCFS over a period of years. The boyfriend, Isauro Aguirre, who was reported to hate the child because he thought he was gay, was sentenced June 7 to death for the crime, and the victim’s mother, Pearl Fernandez, was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. Four DCFS officials are awaiting trial on charges of child abuse and falsifying records involving the boy.
The Office of Child Protection was established to transform the child welfare system in response to that 2013 murder.
Another potential parallel was a concern that homophobia may have contributed to both boys’ abuse.
Although a possible motive in Anthony’s case remains under investigation, Cagle told City News Service that he was told Anthony said “he liked boys and girls” and that the context of the boy’s comment was not entirely clear. At the news conference earlier this week, sheriff’s Capt. Christopher Bergner said that homophobia “has not come up in our investigation as a motivation at this time.”
UPDATE: Heather Barron appeared in a Lancaster courtroom on Friday, June 29, but Kareem Leiva was not in court. Arraignment for the couple was postponed until Monday, July 2.
Previous related stories:
Arrest made in death of 10-year-old Lancaster boy
Reports of abuse ended in 2016 for Anthony Avalos
Review of Antelope Valley child welfare services to follow boy’s death
Homicide detectives investigating suspicious death of 10-year-old Lancaster boy
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Edward says
God bless this innocent child. [removed] all the rest of you and your personal politics.
Bitter says
Amen..
James says
That boy never had sex with anyone and they took his words out of context. He was saying that he didn’t hate boys and girls. Kids don’t have enough language skills to express themselves correctly. The news media is garbage for saying he was gay. Those parents are demonic for harming that kid.
Angel eyes says
Amen
Alexis says
@James…Yes, they did take his words out of context. Not just the media, but anyone that is saying this child was gay, and that is the reason he was tortured and murdered.
Reyna says
Even if the kid was gay, how is that a bad thing? How is being gay “garbage” ?
It’s people who think like you that a major part of the problem!
Alexis says
@Reyna…Wow Reyna, read James’ comment again! He said the news media is garbage. It’s people like you that misread comments and twist them to suit your anger issues. NOT one commenter said being gay is a bad thing. You’re just looking for a fight, so move along, please.
Reyna says
At the news conference earlier this week, sheriff’s Capt. Christopher Bergner said that homophobia “has not come up in our investigation as a motivation at this time.”
That’s because most of the Sheriffs department is homophobic themselves, so of course not!
Alexis says
@Reyna…That’s because the boy said he said he “liked boys and girls.” Many articles twisted the original words to say this child was murdered because he was gay. So you twist this into your own scenario. This precious child was born into abuse, including sexual abuse by a grandfather. The rest of the children were abused also. What was the reason they were abused?
Boo says
DCFS workers don’t know WTF they’re doing. How is it that inhumans like this can get away with this for so long, but yet my friend, a brand new mother, has a bitch of a mother herself, can call DCFS and falsely report that her daughter is neglecting her son (35 days old) and get her son taken away from her. This girl would never hurt her son in a million years. The “mother” that reported her daughter only wanted to ultimately destroy her daughter bcuz of the fact that she was “difficult” as a child growing up. But yet the “mother” physically and mentally abused every one of her own kids and turned them all over to the county bcuz of a guy she was dating. Thank God for karma….she had 2 SETS OF TWINS, and MISCARRIED BOTH OF THEM…….BUT yet she can do this to her own daughter…… Where’s the justice ????
Down2Roll says
Dauntless;
SincState/county law isn’t protecting your grandson, I’m down to roll up on those harming him. I’m sure there are more people who will join me….
Whoever hurts/abuses a child needs to get a beat down! Worse case scenario, I would do jail time to save a child from abuse. Don’t let your grandson suffer, that’s b.s.! Get him out of that situation!
Dauntless says
Down2Roll, I’m working on this situation, at this very moment! Thank you, for your reply! Who knows, I may have to hit you up, if things don’t go my way! I’m trying the legal route first, but, I’m running out of patience!
Grams says
What is going on with these so called Social Workers? How many more children need to die?
Levi says
“hours before the criminal charges were announced, the boy’s family demanded answers about how social workers handled the boy’s case.” WHERE THE HELL WERE YOU ????!!!!! YOU WERE HIS FAMILY BUT YOU BLAME THE STATE ???!!! POS ARE JUST AS CULPABLE AS THE KILLERS !!!! WHERE WERE YOU, YOU KNEW AND DID NOTHING ??!!!!
BOOPME says
AND THEY KEEP ON HAVING MORE
BABIES….
Alexis says
Violence, passed down from one generation to the next, spawns more violence. Grandfather and who else? What’s the extended family’s part in all this? As a last resort place complete blame on an over burdened system.
Martha says
Otra mamada que está. Diciendo es que según por que el niño dijo que era gey que poca madre de autoridades osea nomas por que el declaró que era gey por eso vale menos su vida gente pendeja Y estúpida osea que un hijo de puta padrasto de mierda puede venir a mi casa violar a mi hijo y luego desir que tiene homofomia….vergüenza le debería de dar a la puta familia del niño que no sirvió pa defenderlo pero ahora que el dcfs pague por su negligencia aversi se les ocurre donar un poco para niños maltratados y que dios los perdone a todos….
Martha says
Putas autoridades de mierda que no ven lo que pasa ..osea están relacionando esto como lo de Graviel pero la puta policía y el dcfs prefieren ase r menos la vida de antoni por su negligencia….O que onda por que a isauro le están dando pena de muerte y a este bato sólo le están dando 22 años ……por que ?por no aceptar tanto la pólicia como el dcfs son trabajadores del Gobierno que les vale Madre nuestras vida por que no pueden nisiquiera con las de ellos ….otra cosa las familias por parte del Papa del niño si se pasan por que ora si ya andan pidiendo demandas y justicias para el niño cuando en vida no isieron ni madres al Papa no creo que su hijo le siga importado por que si le siga importado lo siga tenido con el …..
ANNON says
They should let us, we the people, stone them to death…. slowly.
Laughing says
Yes, Sharia and Biblical justice!
Let he who is without sin cast the first stone.
Stephanie says
I would of been in jail killed the grandfather and the bf and the mother to save that innocent boy POS so sad the mother needs her tubes tied
Dauntless says
My grandson is in danger and the DCFS has been called several times! My grandson is intimidated and very frightened of his mother! Do you think they care, or, follow-up?! Even, the court’s “judge” ignored the problem, which, was right in front of him! The damn, greedy attorneys NEVER presented the real facts in the courtroom….they just prolonged the court proceedings, making more money, while, my grandson continued to suffer! And the “judge” went right along with the charade! Our whole system of protecting innocent children absolutely sucks! Everyday, I live in fear, that this might be the day I get “that” phone call! What’s it all really about?!
Further, officials cannot put the blame on neighbors or citizens! We do make the calls! DCFS, police, courts, etc., DON’T listen or do their jobs, any more!
anon says
I pray for you and your grandson. let him know you care! things need to change!!!
Down2Roll says
State/county law isn’t protecting your grandson, I’m down to roll up on those harming him. I’m sure there are more people who will join me….
Whoever hurts/abuses a child needs to get a beat down! Worse case scenario, I would do jail time to save a child from abuse. Don’t let your grandson suffer, that’s b.s.! Get him out of that situation!
Sheryl says
It’s mother’s that put their sicko, abusive boyfriends before their children. These women are the scum of the earth. If you’re a mother, it’s your job to do everything possible to keep your children S.A.F.E! No exceptions, EVER. Don’t trust your children with anyone outside of a grandparent or a trusted sibling and then always still be cautious. Too many children are molested by a family member or close family friend. I can’t stand these low life women that are either druggies or so desperate to have a man that they will allow any scum bag around their children. SMH
Crazy says
So true I agree
Felisha says
It’s not just welfare recipients killing there kids!! Because if that was the case all the kids in the home would be dead. So look a little deeper than surface and assumption!
Shaun da says
This is so sad DCFS needs to be more probably trained. I had a case from a HATE one time & they took my daughter real quick for a year, traumatizing her. They had NO EVIDENCE, NO PICTURES just a phone call false allegations. She was 12 @ the time, she’s now 16… & we are better staying away from the drama. DCFS is the worse
Shaun da says
*HATE CALL
Lupe Gonzalez says
That is so true!!! They go after petty cases when they need to be out there helping out the kids that are really in trouble!!!!
Lupe Gonzalez says
HOW MANY KIDS HAVE TO DIE BEFORE SOMETHING IS DONE ABOUT THESE USELESS DUMB ASS SOCIAL WORKERS!!!!!! THE SYSTEM IS THE REAL MURDER HERE!!!!!
Robert says
No Lupe. Not just the ‘system’. It’s the worthless welfare mothers who want $$$$ and the low life sperm donors (notice plural) they bed.
Too many people depend on government to run their lives. Why? Because they are incompetent people.
Lupe Gonzalez says
your right !! At the end of the day innocent children are dying at the hands of the people who are supposed to be protecting them!!!
Felisha says
It’s not just mother’s on welfare killing their kids.
Fiona says
Most of the time yes.
Reyna says
95% of welfare mothers are using the welfare system because they lack responsibility and good decision-making abilities. So, it shouldn’t really surprise any of us that they’re terrible decision-making extends to their children and choice of boyfriends either…