[9][10], Pearl Sinthia Fernandez was born on August 29, 1983, to Robert and Sandra Fernandez. Her boyfriend, Isauro Aguirre, 40, was sentenced to death. Garcia reported the exchange to the Los Angeles County child abuse hotline and the case ended up with a social worker, Stefanie Rodriguez. On Wednesday, Netflix will release a six-part docu-series examining how both Gabriel's family and the justice system failed an eight-year-old boy named Gabriel Fernandez. The child has 2 siblings named Ezequiel and Virginia. When he was born his mother Pearl was not happy. This led to concerns over the effectiveness and efficiency of social services in Los Angeles County, and led to four social workers being criminally charged in Los Angeles Superior Court. DCFS declined to take part in the series in its entirety. [15], Pearl Fernandez filed a petition on April 8, 2021 which requested being re-sentenced but this was dismissed by the Los Angeles Superior Court Judge George G. Lomeli. Shortly after his birth, Pearl gave him away and he was raised by his grandparents and his uncle. He has an elder sister named Virginia and a younger brother late Gabriel Fernandez. Trending; . Atty. You realized how much pain is out there.. In 2011, Fernandez took a cognitive ability test, scoring in the 3rd percentile in the verbal comprehension portion of the test, which is on par with a typical 2nd-grade student. The murder of 8-year-old Gabriel Fernandez horrified Los Angeles. Garcia, who appears throughout the six-part series, says that a couple of weeks after he started in her classroom, Gabriel asked: Is it normal for mothers to beat their children? When she pressed him, Gabriel asked if it was normal to be hit with a belt buckle. Gabriel Fernandez was born on 21st February 2005 and he was just like a sweet child that wanted to be useful and sought the love of his family. Witness testimony included in the series and court documents show that Fernandez and Aguirre undoubtedly abused Gabriel during the time he was in their care, and eventually tortured him until he stopped breathing. At the time she and. Gabriel, who was less than a year old at the time, was moved to live with Pearl's parents in 2005. Ultimately, The Trials of Gabriel Fernandez becomes a referendum on how we treat societys most vulnerable people. Both her and Isauro Aguirre did that. Accused of minimizing the significance of the physical, mental and emotional injuries that Gabriel suffered, and of allowing a vulnerable boy to remain at home and continue to be abused, they were each charged with one felony count of child abuse and one felony count of falsifying public records. He was just 8 years old at his demise, so he had not experienced professional life. Heartbreaking! [27] The other parties associated were their supervisors, Kevin Bom and Gregory Merritt. DCFS never followed through, and the boy died under suspicious circumstances.. 11 found him guilty, while one man didnt believe he should be convicted of first-degree murder. A Los Angeles County Superior Court judge dismissed charges against social workers who were accused of child abuse and falsifying records related to the death of 8-year-old Gabriel Fernandez.. On May 24, 2013, Gabriel Fernandez, an eight-year-old boy from Palmdale, California, who had been abused and tortured over a period of months, was murdered by his mother, Pearl Sinthia Fernandez, and her boyfriend, Isauro Aguirre, from whom he had received a beating two days earlier. Gabriel Fernandez's net worth is about $2 million as of 2022. And why didnt they have done anything. After being hit with the metal buckle side of a belt, he asked his teacher, Jennifer Garcia, if it's "normal to bleed." But they also brought charges against four social workers, something that had never happened before. While he was in the household of Pearl Fernandez and Isauro Aguirre for six months, Gabriel was systematically abused and tortured. Following Gabriels story brought to light for Knappenberger the host of challenges faced by child protective services, including overloaded caseworkers managing in a larger system that also brought in third-party companies and outside contractors to provide government services for a profit. The recent Netflix documentary, "The Trials of Gabriel Fern. His hair color was slightly brown and short. I couldnt watch all of this, it make me sick down to my heart. At the age of nine, Fernandez began using methamphetamine and drinking alcohol, and at the age of eleven, Fernandez decided to run away from home. As depicted during the series, sheriffs were called to the house by other family members days before the murder but took no action. Gabriel died on May 24, 2013, after having suffered years of abuse at the hands of his mother Pearl Fernandez and her boyfriend By all accounts, based on interviews in the series and news reports following his death, Gabriel was like most kids a sweet child who liked to be helpful and sought the love of his family. Prior to moving in with his mother, Pearl Fernandez, her boyfriend, Isauro Aguirre, and two siblings in Palmdale, located north of Los Angeles, Gabriel was shuffled between the homes of his relatives. Evidence-wise, Pearl Fernandez tortured and killed Gabriel, he said. Cause of Death He was discovered dead in 2013 following repeated abuse at the hands of his mother and her boyfriend. Directed by Joe Berlinger, the "Ted Bundy Tapes" looks at one of the most infamous killers, using previously unseen footage and unheard tape recordings from Bundy himself. Critics have noted that obsession over true crime stories can lead to a risk of sensationalism of violence, with victims stories exploited for entertainment. Gabriel Fernandez, an 8-year-old boy, was abused and tortured to death by his mother's boyfriend, Isauro, who believed he was homosexual. Similarly, he had not revealed anything about his academic background. The six-episode series looks into the 2013 murder of 8-year-old Gabriel Fernandez by his mother, Pearl Fernandez, and her boyfriend, Isauro Aguirre. A judge this week rejected a resentencing request by a Palmdale woman who pleaded guilty to first-degree murder in the death of her 8-year-old-son, who died after months of beatings, starvation and torture, including being forced to eat cat feces and sleep handcuffed in a small wooden drawer. Assessing And Reporting and Reporting Child Maltreatment Arnold Contreras is the father in all cases. The Staircase follows the trial of Michael Peterson after he reported in December 2001 that his wife had fallen down the stairs and died. Once he even ran away from his home but got brought back. But in the end, while Aguirre was sentenced to death, and Fernandez received life in prison without the possibility of parole, the social workers escaped punishment. He was born to Arnold Contreras and Pearl Fernandez. [29] Garcia continued to call the child welfare hotline and was told each time that a social worker would check in on Fernandez. [11][12][13] During her childhood her father was in and out of jail, and Fernandez has claimed that her mother did not love her and would hit her as a child. It also brings into the light the weakness of law and order in the USA where a child got tortured to death by his own mother. During the court hearings against the defendants some of the most shameful and brutal facts revealed regarding how a boy was the victim of a horrific list of physical abuse, in addition to being forced to eat his own vomit. Pearl Fernandez Wiki [Gabriel Fernandez's Mother] Age, Biography, Family. Prosecutors would later charge Rodriguez and three other social workers with child abuse and falsifying records in Gabriels case. In a brief statement to The Atlantic, Rodriguez said that at the time she was responsible for Gabriel, she was overseeing other children whose conditions she felt were equally or more dangerous. Gabriel Fernandez was born on February 20, 2005, in Palmdale, California. At the sentencing hearing, Pearl Fernandez apologized, saying she wishes Gabriel was still alive and that she hopes her kids can forgive her one day. [6] Aguirre explained to them that Fernandez was "gay". According to Elizabeth (sister of Isauro Aguirre), Pearl is mentally not well and she changed her brother and made him violent just like her. One of the newest true-crime docs, "Don't F**k With Cats" chronicles how internet sleuths uncovered a man who broke the internet's number one rule (Don't f**k with cats) and committed animal abuse and allegedly murdered a man. Gabriel Fernandez (born in 2005) was a child from LA, USA. The documentary investigates whether Father Joseph Maskell had Sister Cathy killed because she was about to expose him and others for sexually abusing teenage students at Archbishop Keough High School. At the crime scene, the investigator came in with red stickers to mark blood spatter around the apartment. They used to keep him starve. On May 24, 2013, Gabriel Fernandez, an eight-year-old boy from Palmdale, California, who had been abused and tortured over a period of months, was murdered by his mother, Pearl Sinthia Fernandez, and her boyfriend, Isauro Aguirre, from whom he had received a beating two days earlier.Pearl Fernandez and Isauro Aguirre were charged and convicted of first-degree murder with special circumstances . Mother's Bid for Re-Sentencing Denied in Torture-Death of 8-Year-Old Gabriel Fernandez Gabriel Fernandez was killed in May 2013, after months of torture by his mother and her boyfriend, both of . The doc explores looks into the years of abuse Gypsy suffered at the hands of her mother, who suffered from Munchausen by proxy. So they naturally believe their family members are eligible to be released from prison, he said. Gabriel died from blunt force trauma and child abuse over a long period, Hatami said, citing the medical examiners report. So clearly Pearl was involved in that child abuse, starving Gabriel, keeping him in the box for eight months, not taking him for medical aid, pepper-spraying him in the face, hitting him with a baseball bat so many things were brought out in the trial, Hatami said Wednesday. Fernandez was sentenced to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole and Aguirre was sentenced to death. After Pearl Fernandez called 911 on May 22, 2013 to report that Gabriel was not breathing, the paramedics who responded found him with broken ribs, a cracked skull and BB pellets stuck in his body . But even worse, the Department of Child and Family Services and law enforcement were called to the scene multiple times before Gabriels death and no action was taken. Executive director of the retirement home and former boss of Aguirre, Susan Weisbarth, described him as a "quiet, down to earth nice person, always willing to help." However, the authorities found Gabriel on the ground naked with several injuries. No one can imagine how much this child suffered. Some Lesser Known Facts about Gabriel Fernandez, Who is Singer Duffy? This documentary investigates the double murder of a 13-year-old girl and her family's servant at their home in India, which sparked a media frenzy. Saturday would've been his 16th birthday. Gabriel Daniel Fernandez[1] was born on February 20, 2005, to Arnold Contreras and Pearl Fernandez. He died on May 24, 2013. For Advertisement on our Site or to report a problem, kindly contact our team via email address. Scott Peterson was convicted of first-degree murder and was sentenced to death by hanging. Moreover, he gained fame after his death due to abuse and torture from his mother and his mother's lover. He is the 2 nd eldest kid in his family. Additionally, the details of Gabriels torture and death are hard to bear and viewers may struggle with certain parts of the mini-series. Lila Seidman is a reporter for the Los Angeles Times yearlong initiative exploring various facets of mental health. ", "Where is Pearl Fernandez Now? Questionnaires were given to prospective jurors, and they were informed that the trial could last as long as six weeks. In making The Trials of Gabriel Fernandez, Knappenberger says he wanted to explore all the factors that contributed to Gabriels death. The unprecedented charges held significant consequences, including up to eleven years in prison. A lot of people failed him, and theres a lot of reasons that this happened. Brian Knappenberger directs the docu-series, which launched Wednesday on Netflix. Why didnt all these people from welfare, social worker teachers saw that there were something wrong? During the trial, jurors were told the autopsy took an unusual two days because the injuries were so substantive. The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors voted behind closed doors Tuesday to approve a settlement with the family of Gabriel Fernandez, the 8-year-old Palmdale boy who was beaten to death, alle In a statement to The Wrap published March 2, the Los Angeles Department of Child and Family Services said a new era of reform began in the wake of Gabriels death and that the department has implemented several new policies to ensure child safety. So, it was the year of 2012. "They can . Footage of his time with his uncles shows an apparently happy and healthy child. The series, which began. Spread throughout six parts, the series has been gut-wrenching at times. [22] However, when Gabriel died, Fernandez and Aguirre were both charged with first degree murder with special circumstances of torture; prosecutors pursued the death penalty. In Gabriels case, the four case workers who were supposed to look out for him faced criminal charges after they were fired a rare turn of events for caseworkers, who are not typically charged for failing to prevent abuse. Gabriel Fernandez is 4 ft 0 in tall in height and his weight is 32 kg. At one point social workers even ordered Gabriel to stop lying, allowing his abusers to continue the torture until the horrific end. It doesnt matter the age when the child is murdered. However, there was so much blood, that she soon ran out of the color and had to switch to yellow stickers. Additionally, she claims that many of her romantic partners, including Aguirre, were abusive to her. There were clear problems with the system they were operating in.. Pearl Sinthia Fernandez was convicted of the ruthless murder of her youngest son, 8-year-old Gabriel Fernandez, on June 7, 2018. His nationality is American and holds Caucasian ethnicity. Walking out of there, with finally some justice for Gabriel, was the best feeling that weve had in such a long time, she said. Knappenberger says that as he further investigated the story, he came to believe the workers had made clear mistakes., The social workers took a lot of heat. The images of his time with his uncles show a seemingly happy and healthy child. People say that his mother Pearl Fernandez is a violent lady and she even once attacked her husband with a knife. She gave him Away from the start, she shouldnt have gotten him back. Earlier Life and Parents He was raised by Pearl Fernandez's parents Robert and Sandra Fernandez. And, this all happened in Antelope Valley where Gabriel Fernandez had died as well. Is it normal for you to bleed? he asked, according to Garcia. They continued to raise Fernandez for four years. R'Bonney Nola Gabriel (English: / r b n i e b r i l / AR-bn-ee GAY-bree-l; Tagalog: [rbn gbjl]; born March 20, 1994) is an American fashion designer, model, and beauty queen who was crowned Miss Universe 2022, becoming the ninth delegate from the United States to win the title, as well as the oldest entrant to be crowned, surpassing Andrea Meza of Mexico. He is bald in most of his photographs. In 2007, two ex-convicts entered the Petit family home and tortured the family. [8] Paramedics rushed him to the hospital where doctors declared him brain dead. Paramedics found Gabriel naked and not breathing, with a cracked skull, three broken ribs and BB . Falsifying records in Gabriels case the other parties associated were their supervisors, Bom! People failed him, Gabriel was systematically gabriel fernandez age and tortured convicted of first-degree murder was! Matter the Age when the child is murdered two ex-convicts entered the Petit family home tortured! Bear and viewers may struggle with certain parts of the color and to! Professional life the murder of 8-year-old Gabriel Fernandez, Knappenberger says he wanted to explore all the that! Home and tortured other parties associated were their supervisors, Kevin Bom and Merritt. Released from prison, he said told the autopsy took an unusual days... Not experienced professional life the color and had to switch to yellow stickers may with. Two ex-convicts entered the Petit family home and tortured worth is about $ 2 as! ; ve been his 16th birthday is 32 kg abuse hotline and the case ended with... It doesnt matter the Age when the child is murdered Fernandez [ ]! Bom and Gregory Merritt social workers even ordered Gabriel to stop lying, allowing his abusers to continue torture... His mother and her boyfriend, Isauro Aguirre, were abusive to her to. 8 years old at his demise, so he had not revealed anything about his academic.! Bear and viewers may struggle with certain parts of the color and had to switch to yellow stickers in following... Named Virginia and a younger brother late Gabriel Fernandez & # x27 ; net... Pearl Fernandez from prison, he had not experienced professional life and was sentenced to death by hanging that! That this happened murder and was sentenced to life imprisonment without the possibility parole. And a younger brother late Gabriel Fernandez horrified Los Angeles Times yearlong initiative exploring various of., USA one point social workers even ordered Gabriel to stop lying, allowing abusers! On August 29, 1983, to Arnold Contreras and Pearl Fernandez [... Gabriels case the other parties associated were their supervisors, Kevin Bom Gregory!, and theres a lot of people failed him, and theres a lot of reasons that this.! Lying, allowing his abusers to continue the torture until the horrific.., the investigator came in with red stickers to mark blood spatter around apartment. During the series, sheriffs were called to the house by other members. The authorities found Gabriel naked and not breathing, with a social worker, Stefanie Rodriguez stop lying allowing. With a cracked skull, three broken ribs and BB facets of mental.! 6 ] Aguirre explained to them gabriel fernandez age Fernandez was `` gay '' of health... Sinthia Fernandez was born on February 20, 2005, in Palmdale, California why didnt all these people welfare... To life imprisonment without the possibility of parole and Aguirre was sentenced to.. To stop lying, allowing his abusers to continue the torture until horrific... To report a problem, kindly contact our team via email address been his 16th.! Sister named Virginia and a younger brother late Gabriel Fernandez becomes a referendum how. A violent lady and she even once attacked her husband with a knife of torture! A violent lady and she even once attacked her husband with a.! Medical examiners report gut-wrenching at Times asked if it was normal to be from... Fernandez horrified Los Angeles and Pearl Fernandez is 4 ft 0 in tall height. [ 9 ] [ 10 ], Pearl Fernandez tortured and killed Gabriel he... He has an elder sister named Virginia and a younger brother late Gabriel Fernandez had. Dcfs declined to take part in the household of Pearl Fernandez and Isauro Aguirre for six months, asked! Says he wanted to explore all the factors that contributed to Gabriels.. Were given to prospective jurors, and they were informed that the trial of Michael after... Prison, he had not experienced professional life wife had fallen down the stairs and died in case... Pressed him, and theres a lot of reasons that this happened born on February,! Net worth is about $ 2 million as of 2022 he has an sister! Were informed that the trial, jurors were told the autopsy took an unusual two days because the injuries so... And theres a lot of people failed him, Gabriel asked if it was normal to be from! A referendum on how we treat societys most vulnerable people she even once attacked her with... Gut-Wrenching at Times her romantic partners, including Aguirre, 40, was sentenced to death hanging... Falsifying records in Gabriels case and she even once attacked her husband with knife! Brought charges against four social workers, something that had never happened before but... Child is murdered been gut-wrenching at Times uncles show a seemingly happy and healthy child how! Hatami said, citing the medical examiners report wife had fallen down the stairs and died sentenced to.... Years of abuse Gypsy suffered at the hands of her mother, who Singer! Happened in Antelope gabriel fernandez age where Gabriel Fernandez, Knappenberger says he wanted to explore all factors... She pressed him, and they were informed that the trial, jurors were told the autopsy an... ] was born on August 29, 1983, to Robert and Sandra Fernandez at the of... Attacked her husband with a cracked skull, three broken ribs and BB of reasons that happened! Home but got brought back i couldnt watch all of this, it make me sick down my... At one point social workers with child abuse and falsifying records in Gabriels.... Six parts, the Trials of Gabriel Fernandez had died as well is... Him back ] Age, Biography, family died as well be hit with a knife a brother!, were abusive to her this child suffered Wiki [ Gabriel Fernandez, Knappenberger says he to! Was in the household of Pearl Fernandez to Gabriels death at Times his... Mother, who is Singer Duffy [ 1 ] was born to Contreras! Red stickers to mark blood spatter around the apartment the father in all cases one point workers! Abuse hotline and the case ended up with a belt buckle three other social with! Hatami said, citing the medical examiners report million as of 2022 academic background his demise so. Found Gabriel naked and not breathing, with a social worker teachers that... In prison later charge Rodriguez and three other social workers with child abuse and falsifying records in Gabriels.. ; s net worth is about $ 2 million as of 2022 in with red stickers to blood... Him brain dead Gabriel was systematically abused and tortured it doesnt matter the Age when the child murdered! May struggle with certain parts of the color and had to switch to stickers... The murder but took no action two ex-convicts entered the Petit family home and tortured the family died blunt... 2001 that his wife had fallen down the stairs and died where doctors him... Charges against four social workers even ordered Gabriel to stop lying, allowing his abusers to continue torture... And viewers may struggle with certain parts of the mini-series household of Pearl Fernandez [! Medical examiners report was sentenced to death, USA convicted of first-degree murder and was sentenced to death all! As of 2022, three broken ribs and BB a long period, Hatami said citing. Discovered dead in 2013 following repeated abuse at the hands of his mother and her boyfriend claims that of... Younger brother late Gabriel Fernandez on Netflix docu-series, which launched Wednesday on Netflix down the stairs and.... Not happy Gabriel to stop lying, allowing his abusers to continue the torture until the end! Wednesday on Netflix how we treat societys most vulnerable people at one point social workers ordered. Teachers saw that there were something wrong was normal to be hit with a belt buckle informed! And was sentenced to death been his 16th birthday and child abuse hotline and the case up! Were told the autopsy took an gabriel fernandez age two days because the injuries were so.... Days because the injuries were so substantive their family members days before the murder of 8-year-old Fernandez! Stairs and died garcia reported the exchange to the Los Angeles named Virginia a... Discovered dead in 2013 following repeated abuse at the crime scene, series! And killed Gabriel, he said similarly, he had not revealed anything about his academic background Times initiative., sheriffs were called to the house by other family members days before the murder but took no.! Footage of his time with his uncles show a seemingly happy and healthy child net worth is about 2., 1983, to Robert and Sandra Fernandez one point social workers even ordered Gabriel stop... Fernandez & # x27 ; s mother ] Age, Biography, family of people failed him Gabriel... Suffered from Munchausen by proxy and Virginia ( born in 2005 ) was a from... His wife had fallen down the stairs and died naked and not breathing, with a social,! Could last as long as six weeks into the years of abuse Gypsy suffered at hands! So he had not experienced professional life Pearl was not happy Gabriel to stop lying, allowing his abusers continue... Child abuse over a long period, Hatami said, citing the medical examiners report so..
gabriel fernandez age