After having Fernandez, his mom, Pearl, decided she wasnt the right person to raise him. Relatives who loved him and cared for him. Children are still getting murdered. However, before he turned 4, the little boy began living with his grandparents Robert and Sandra Fernandez. To inquire about a licence to reproduce material, visit our Syndication site. Gavin Newsom, citing his personal sense of morality, suspended all executions for as long as he's in office. David currently resides in San Salvador, where he was interviewed for the docuseries. Contreras said Aguirre deserves no mercy, and he said evidence backs him up. Gabriel's uncle, Chris Contreras, is breaking his silence. He said: She [Pearl] didnt want him and the family didnt want her to have him. Why No One Saved Gabriel Fernandez. We convinced herto give him to uswe picked Gabriel up from the hospital when he was three days old. He and his wife adopted Gabriel's siblings, the walking wounded. Gabriel's memory in the household is so painful, they avoid it. Send it to us! Sick mum Pearl Fernandez and her partner Isauro Aguirre beat Gabriel with a belt and burned him with cigarettes, sometimes in front of his siblings. He lived with them for about four years, until his grandparents objected to him being cared for by two gay men. RELATED: Palmdale abuse case: Mother of slain 8-year-old Gabriel Fernandez pleads guilty, Sunshine returns to SoCal on Thursday but cold temps stick around, World of Barbie to open next month at Santa Monica Place, Jupiter and Venus appear to 'kiss' in the sky. Because no matter how many times I saw Gabriel smile, when I think of Gabriel now, I picture him in that hospital bed, not waking up.". The series takes a trip to El Salvador in Episode 3 to speak to David Martinez, known to Gabriel as "Uncle David," whose story and relationship to Gabriel highlights the homophobia that was a major factor in the death of the child. The series originally had included the Contreras family, but to allow more time for healing, Contreras requested that their part be taken out. We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you've consented to and to improve our understanding of you. At least those people are going to do their part and I know that children have been saved due to his story," Contreras said. Fernandez was sentenced to life imprisonment, and Aguirro to death, although due to Governor Gavin Newsom suspending all executions while he's in office, he will remain in prison. "They had the upper hand, I honestly believe to remove him and save him. Christene Estes, a nurse who treated Gabriel in the hours before his death in May 2013, says the abuse he suffered was worse than anything else she'd ever seen. "It's all those emotions are there. Car loads.". One way or another," Contreras said. "They had the upper hand, I honestly believe to remove him and save him. "I think you not only have a moral and ethical obligation to save that child, I think you have a legal obligation to save that child. The Netflix documentary, "The Trials of Gabriel Fernandez", they watched it together. Children are still getting murdered. The Trials of Gabriel Fernandez is a full brown reveal of the life and death of an eight. They need somebody else to do it, but especially during this time. As Garcia described Gabriel's progress in her class, Fernandez blurted out of nowhere, "I don't hit my kids." "Oh OK," said Garcia. And if you don't, I think the public then should have the right to hold you criminally responsible," Hatami said. Unfortunately, they were his last eight months. Please note that this form cannot be used to reset your Google or Facebook password. "I would show everybody that picture of Gabriel in the hospital. "As far as Canada, they come. She will never be released from prison. When he was 3 days old, Pearl sent her son to live with Michael. Car loads.". Four had been charged but the appeals court dismissed the case ruling that the workers did not have a legal responsibility to care for a child the way a parent did. All rights reserved. I will love him until I die.". He was declared brain dead and taken off life support two days later. However, Pearl and Aguirre called Gabriel gay and hurt him for acting in manners that they considered feminine. He takes aim at the Department of Children and Family Services. You see his pictures as a baby, he was always smiling. Seven years later, his story has traveled worldwide. Or by navigating to the user icon in the top right. Im sorry to my children, and I want them to know that I love them. Those were just some of the injuries suffered by Gabriel Fernandez at the hands of his mother, Pearl, shortly before he died. View our online Press Pack. And if you don't, I think the public then should have the right to hold you criminally responsible," Hatami said. A new voice joined the outcry. Gabriel's mother, Pearl Fernandez, and her boyfriend, Isauro Aguirre, were ultimately convicted of first-degree murder in the boy's death, with Pearl now serving a life sentence and Aguirre being held on death row after a jury found the boy suffered unprecedented abuse at the hands of his guardians who had custody of Gabriel for less than a year. Mourners have had questions. During the trial of Isauro Aguirre, Robert testified that that one day his daughter took Gabriel and refused to bring him back. This weekend marks seven years since parental child abuse took the life of 8-year-old Gabriel Fernandez. Four Los Angeles County social workers - Stefanie Rodriguez and Patricia Clement along with two supervisors, Kevin Bom and Gregory Merritt were charged in connection with the boy's death. Those who knew Gabriel best talked to ABC7 about the boy. RELATED: Gabriel Fernandez case: Court says social workers won't face charges in Palmdale boy's death. A three-justice panel stated that there was no probable cause connected to child abuse or falsifying documents in a 2-to-1 opinion. See the 'Counting On' Kids' Houses, Look How Much the Little Couple's Kids Will and Zoey Have Grown Up, Every Look From the Kardashian-Jenner Family at the 2021 Met Gala, Gabby Petito's Texts Show 'More and More Tension' With Brian Laundrie, 'Welcome to Plathville' Kim Plath's DUI Case Closed: Fine, More Details, Sister Wives Kody, Robyn Were With a Mystery Blonde: Identity Revealed, Megan Fox and MGK's Relationship Is 'Toxic': 'There Is Concern for Her', Farrah Abraham Slams Mom-Shamers Over Daughter Sophias Piercings, Jon Gosselin Is 'Open' With Kids Collin, Hannah About Their Dating Lives. Paramedics had been called out to his house in Los Angeles by his mother Pearl, who claimed over the phone that he had slipped in the bathroom and hit his head. In the early years of his life he lived with his Great Uncle but why did this change? "They put him in the back of the car and told him that if he kept lying about things, that he would be the one to go to jail," Elizabeth said. Gabriel Fernandez: Which other cases were tried in same LA courtroom? Gabriel died in intensive care after being savagely beaten and tortured at his home in Palmdale, Los Angeles County, by Pearl Fernandez and her partner Isauro Aguirro. On September 13, 2018, a Los Angeles County judge denied a motion to dismiss felony child abuse and falsification of records charges against four former child welfare caseworkers in the 2013 death of eight-year-old Gabriel Fernandez. ", In Martinez's account, he and Carranza had to give Gabriel up due to the wishes of his grandfather Robert Fernandez. It's all those emotions are there. The power for change, Hatami says, is reflected in a growing memorial. Her theory was that Pearl told authorities that it was bigger boys that were harming her son, not her and her partner. Four had been charged but the appeals court dismissed the case ruling that the workers did not have a legal responsibility to care for a child the way a parent did. But Gov. DeSantis coming to CA as new poll shows him leading Trump, Ice flies off SUV, smashing windshield: 'You could kill somebody'. They wanted to prove he performed CPR as the boy was dying. Three months later on February 24, Pearl pleaded guilty to the same charge.Whereas Isauro received the death penalty, Pearl was immune from receiving the death penalty after taking a plea deal. Later, ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) deported his partner David to El Salvador. Car loads.". "As far as Canada, they come. David maintains that this allegation is false, as did some members of Gabriel's family. Children are still getting murdered. ; Contact Us Have a question, idea, or some feedback? Martinez said in the doc: "He stayed with us for almost four years, until Grandpa Robert said that two gay guys shouldn't be raising a kid. Before Gabriel Fernandez returned to his mother Pearl Fernandez, he was brought up by his Great uncle Michael Lemos Carranza and his grandparents. "There were rumours that he [Gabriel] was gay, and it's like, 'no, my baby's not gay. For the final eight months of his life, Gabriel suffered extreme abuse at the hands of his mother Pearl and Isauro. [FACT CHECK]Gabriel Fernandez: Why did the 4 social workers' case not go to trial? A fractured skull, broken ribs and BB pellets in his skin. Seven years on from his death, there are still so many lingering uncertainties regarding Gabriel's case and not just about his murderer parents. PALMDALE, Calif. -- This weekend marks seven years since parental child abuse took the life of 8-year-old Gabriel Fernandez. PALMDALE, California -- This weekend marks seven years since parental child abuse took the life of 8-year-old Gabriel Fernandez. Gabriel Fernandez: What happened to Gabriel Fernandezs parents? "Part of knowing how to do CPR is that you don't stop until the paramedics showed up," said Jon Hatami, the prosecutor in Gabriel's case. One way or another," Contreras said. A position rejected by Hatami. Gabriel Fernandez: Is Pearl Fernandez still in prison? I haven't been here [San Salvador] for 38 years. Contreras says Aguirre deserves no mercy, and he says evidence backs him up. He saw how it opened minds and hearts. "Children are still getting killed. Aguirre was sentenced to death. The. Gabriel lived with Michael and David for the first few years of his life. They also locked the helpless child in a cupboard that the family would disturbingly call "the box" and forced him to eat cat faeces all because they thought he was gay. The evil actions of Pearl and her boyfriend Isauro Aguirre - torturing and murdering her eight-year-old son - have appalled viewers of Netflix s latest docuseries. Because no matter how many times I saw Gabriel smile, when I think of Gabriel now, I picture him in that hospital bed, not waking up.". And if you don't, I think the public then should have the right to hold you criminally responsible," Hatami said. It is not any easier," Contreras said. Ligature marks on his ankles like hed been tied up. When emergency services were called to his home in May 2013, he was found with a fractured skull, broken ribs and BB gun bullets in his skin, to name a few of his horrific injuries. You need to care," said Deputy District Attorney Jon Hatami. In a suit Robert Fernandez brought against the county of Los Angeles with his wife Sandra after the death of Gabriel, the couple allege that they always had custody of the child. Those who knew Gabriel best talked to ABC7 about the boy. 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