The order was issued on May 15 after a Department of Child and Family Services caseworker filed the request to remove Noah Cuatro from his parents’ custody, the Los Angeles Times reported.
Two days earlier, authorities were told the boy’s father, Jose, had a drinking problem and had kicked his wife and their children in public, according to anonymous sources who talked to the paper.
One of the sources told The Times that when Jose Cuatro was drinking he would tell Noah’s mother he doubted the boy was his child.
Around the same time, DCFS workers learned of allegations that Noah had been sodomized and had rectal injuries, according to a DCFS case file read to The Times by one of the sources. Still, caseworkers did not return Noah to foster care.
At the time of Noah’s death, he was under active supervision by the DCFS after more than a dozen calls to the child abuse hotline and police from people who said they suspected Noah and his siblings were being abused, The Times said.
The boy was removed from his parents’ custody in 2016 and lived in foster care until being returned to his parents in 2018, when new reports of suspected abuse arose, including one report that Noah had bruises on his back during a visit to Olive View-UCLA Medical Center in Sylmar, the sources said.
Authorities were called about 4 p.m. Friday, July 5, to the family’s home in the 1200 block of East Avenue S in Palmdale, and Noah’s parents said the boy nearly drowned in the family’s pool, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department said. The boy was taken to Palmdale Regional Medical Center, then transferred to Children’s Hospital Los Angeles where he was pronounced dead on Saturday morning. The cause of death was not disclosed.
Noah’s parents were questioned, but not arrested and his siblings were taken into protective custody, sheriff’s Lt. Joe Mendoza said.
Noah’s death follows the deaths of two Antelope Valley boys — 10-year- old Anthony Avalos of Lancaster in June 2018 and 8-year-old Gabriel Fernandez of Palmdale in May 2013 — who were found to have suffered severe abuse in cases that raised questions about the effectiveness of DCFS personnel and policies.
In June 2018, Fernandez’s mother, Pearl Sinthia Fernandez, 34, was sentenced to life in prison without parole and her boyfriend, Isauro Aguirre, 37, was sentenced to death for the torture killing of Gabriel.
In the Avalos case, his mother, Heather Maxine Barron, 29, and her boyfriend, Kareem Ernesto Leiva, 32, pleaded not guilty to killing and torturing the boy before his death.
In both cases, the L.A. County Department of Children and Family Services received reports about abuse, but chose to leave each boy in the home with his mother and her boyfriend.
Previous related story: Investigation launched into 4-year-old Palmdale boy’s death
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Alexis says
There are so many children being abused by their parents that it is overwhelming. The ones that aren’t murdered will carry the scars for the rest of their lives.
Simon says says
That is a different subject, and as such, tends to diffuse the pressure that should be building up against DCFS. After all, DCFS has been instrumental in these three deaths.
What's wrong with Hispanic fathers says
I like to know why Hispanic father seemed to be killing their kids do they have a problem and molesting them also
And Tim don’t open your effing mouth because I’ve been through a lot of stuff as a kid so don’t open your f—ing mouth
Tim Scott says
And that has what to do with me, exactly?
Oliver Twisted says
Board of Supervisors needs. public hearings in which Bobby Cagel and Robin Younger-Holmes are held to answer. There is a complete system failure here which has thus far cost 3 innocent and helpless boys their lives. A lot of DCFS social workers need to get fired and charged with accessory to murder. And who says DCFS doesn’t murder?
Shane Falco says
DCFS is just overburdened with having to keep track of all these trash AV people. There is a common denominator in all these kids deaths and it starts with the names of the abusers.
Tim Scott says
Hey, Shane’s back, and making the same kind of stupid remarks he always has before.. With another fire season there is renewed hope for his incineration.
Shane Falco says
Same Tim Scott, same AV people abusing and killing kids. It’s interesting to hear national radio stations mentioning this and “what’s going on in that area where kids keep getting killed?”.
Of course, to Tim the biggest danger in the AV isn’t these generational abusers, drugs, crime, homelessness or influx of parolees….its deputies.
Nadia says
Tim Scott wishing Shane Falco is incinerated. You are one indecent human being. Stay far, far away from a dark soul like you. And you think you are righteous, calling out other people?
Tim Scott says
I spent years of my life on tap to incinerate millions of people who were far less obviously harmful than Shane Falco had it been “deemed necessary” by YOUR government, and you think my conscience should quiver over him? Trust me, I don’t think I’m “righteous” AT ALL.
D. Duke says
Welcome back Shane. We haven’t had this sort of racist talk in the AV since Rex opened his pie hole. Of course Shane and fellow members of the Parris Reich are silent when Pastor David Richards rapes his 14 year old daughter. Or when John Benjamin Gehrich violated terms of his probation as a sex offender in Utah.
Shane should either serve on the Lancaster City Council or one of the sham commissions. His racism would be a perfect fit.
Alexis says
D. Duke: Your usual irrational behavior by mentioning isolated cases goes beyond shameful. There’s plenty of racism going on right here in the comments section on a daily basis. Targeting Shane Falco seems a bit much, but nothing rational happens here anyway. If a person doesn’t like a comment by someone, just label them a racist, right? If the comments don’t fit with your stunted viewpoint than link him with Rex Parris, and that should show him. Of course incinerating him somehow acceptable to you. I’m a Jew and no doubt you would like to incinerate me too.
Tim Scott says
No one, to my knowledge, has any interest in incinerating you Alexis. And the reference to incinerating Foolco was based on his being a fireman, which seemed obvious enough given the mention of fire season, and had nothing to do with Judaism.
As to “singling him out,” I don’t really see it. Racists get called on their racist remarks here pretty universally. And he linked HIMSELF to Wrecks, so you can hardly blame anyone for that.
Alexis says
Apparently you don’t know the name (D. Duke), but it doesn’t matter. I see plenty of racist comments on here, and the excuse is (freedom of speech). His comment about child abuse regarding this article was not racist. I don’t agree with his blanket comment about an entire area, but wishing death on someone is particularly odious. Using free speech goes both ways, lobbing hate back and forth, whatever label you use is only going to do one thing, (tear down). Apparently, here, it’s acceptable to tell someone you want them incinerated, but it’s not o.k. to make what you consider a racist comment. And everyone did what was right in his own eyes. It’s only going to get much worse with this line of thinking.
Alexis says
With all the gun violence in this nation, incineration could be an alternative. If you don’t like someone’s comment just wish them death, as long as it’s not a gun that’s used. Even D. Dukes baited comment hooked me. Shame on me.
D. Duke says
Alexis I reread my most and cannot for the life of me figure out how you came to that conclusion. I was pointing out Shane Falco’s obvious racist tone in his post. He said and I quote, “There is a common denominator in all these kids deaths and it starts with the names of the abusers.”
Do you understand what he was saying? If not, I cannot help you. You seem like a good person but I think it is pretty obvious what Shane was inferring in his remarks. It is not the first time he has shown his true colors.
I see you corrupt says
Write the DOJ. If enough complaints are received, we can get a federal review and start holding these abusers accountable. Dcfs that is. They are a willing accomplice and participant to the demise of these children. Your tax dollars LA County. Woukd your job keep you if you had performance rates like this. Starts with a bottom line, ends with one.
Mommy's THOT says
Can’t decide who is sicker: The one who sodomized the 4 yr old; or the DCFS case worker, Case worker’s supervisor, and ARA? I say execute them all.
These egotistical self-righteous, self absorbed DCFS sadists need to listen to children. When a child says “I want to go to daddy’s house”, send him to the father. If the child says, “I don’t want to go home.” Look deeper, but for God’s sake don’t send him where he don’t want to go. But NO! These self absorbed case workers hold on to the ancient bias that placing the child with mommy is best – even when mommy has rotating boyfriends.
The common denominator(s) in all 3 palmdale child deaths has been DCFS lets the child be with mommy and mommy’s boyfriend.
Another DCFS Tragedy says
“The boy was removed from his parents’ custody in 2016 and lived in foster care until being returned to his parents in 2018…”
RIP Noah.
RICHARD TAPIA says
DCFS DEFIES A COURT ORDER? THERE BETTER BE SOME ACCOUNTABILITY HERE… AND SOMEONE OR MORE THAN ONE NEED TO BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE AND FIRED! NONE OF THIS BS LIKE WE HAVE SEEN BEFORE. WHEN DOES IT STOP?
Broken heart says
The director of LADCFS sends his condolences. What!
VXSGuy says
Ok, District Attorney and Sheriff will DCFS be investigated and held accountable? The Director shall be held accountable if reports said sexual abuse was suspected and he was removed and returned back to parents. Rather than worrying about kids, the elected leadership is focused on ICE. 3 kids is one to many before elected officials start caring.
Shelly says
Even in this picture it appears as if he has a “hospital” identification bracelet on top of his juice. So saddened. Why can’t people EVER do their job properly?
Cher says
When there is actual physical and sexual abuse reported the children should be removed. Instead they are removing children from drug addicts and alcoholics that never would lay a hand on their children. It’s simple remove the ones that have been abused.
jaylynn says
if you are an alcoholic and drug user, you need your child taken away. You are an abuser.
Alexis says
Another innocent child, dead from horrific abuse. He begged not to go back to the one that hurt him, but DCFS did so anyway. How many more?