The deputy district attorney said it was the prosecution's position that both of these defendants are evil individuals, and that they were both abusive before meeting each other. Barron and Leiva are charged with one count each of murder and torture involving the June 2018 death of Anthony Avalos, along with two counts of child abuse involving the boy's half-siblings, identified in court as Destiny O. and Rafael O.. At age 10, his 77-pound body showed signs of prolonged abuse. When his body was discovered, it showed signs of physical abuse and malnutrition. "Anthony Avalos graduated from the fourth grade on June 7, 2018 and for two consecutive weeks he was abused and tortured every day," Teymouri said. He was immediately rushed to a local hospital. View our online Press Pack. He argued that the lack of severe external head injuries flies in the face of allegations that Leiva is responsible for the boy's death. The trial for the caretakers of a 10-year-old California boy who authorities say was tortured and murdered in 2018 has been set. The mother of Anthony Avalos, a boy who came out as gay weeks before his death, has been arrested and charged with his murder By Alexia Fernndez Published on June 30, 2018 12:30 AM Prosecutors say Anthony Avalos, pictured in 2013 at age 6, died in June 2018 after suffering prolonged abuse at the hands of his mother and her boyfriend. Leiva's attorney countered that the evidence would demonstrate that there is "reasonable doubt" involving the murder charge against his client. The defense lawyer questioned the accounts of the boy's half-siblings, whose testimony he noted has changed over time. The prosecutor said the boy was already brain dead and had been lying on the floor in the familys townhouse for at least a day, possibly more when Barron called 911 to seek assistance for the boy, and that the two concocted a story that Anthony Avalos had injured himself.. Heather Maxine Barron, 29, and Kareem Ernesto Leiva, 32, have pleaded not guilty to charges that they killed Anthony Avalos and tortured him in the days leading up to . Dark red spots showed multiple subdural hematomas - a type of bleeding that occurs between the skull and the surface of the brain. The case of 10-year-old Anthony Avalos exposes serious failures by the Los Angeles County child protection system to intervene before his death. In the midst of the abuse, Anthony wrote a suicide note, according to records previously reviewed by The Times. "No one deserves this," Deputy District Attorney Jon Hatami told the court in closing arguments Thursday. According to Hatami, she too was abused by her mother Heather Barron, and her mother's boyfriend Kareem Leiva. Two of Anthonys siblings testified at the trial, clutching a stress ball as they described the ways they and Anthony were tortured by Barron and Leiva. Assistant District Attorney Saeed Teymouri said Barrn and Leiva tortured and abused Avalos in the two weeks before his death. Meanwhile the LA Times reports that his other aunt, Crystal Diuguid, even claimed to her therapist that Anthony's mum was beating him and locking him in a room with no bathroom or access to food. Hatami told the judge that the prosecution believes the boy died of a combination of starvation and dehydration, blunt force trauma, chronic child abuse and torture and failure to seek medical treatment. A coroner testified Tuesday that a Lancaster boy who died of alleged abuse by his mother and her ex-boyfriend had severe blunt force injuries to his brain. Jonathan Hatami said as Barron stared blankly ahead, not looking up. Leiva and Barron now face a maximum of life in prison without the possibility of parole if they are convicted as charged. The prosecutor said Barron and Leiva weren't trying to save Anthony but were trying to save themselves when Barron called 911 on June 20, 2018, after the boy was left on the floor for about two days following about two weeks of abuse. Two weeks later, with no one to monitor his well-being, he was dead, his battered body covered with bruises, lesions and bloody scrapes from the lashes of belts and electrical cables. Calif. Fri, Feb 10, 2023 . . ", Leiva's defense attorney Dan Chambers told the judge this case "can't be decided on emotion. Dixon has claimed she did not notice any signs of abuse while working on Anthony's case. "Think about a 10-year-old child kneeling down on rice and nails," Hatami said. Over Deputy District Attorney Jonathan Hatami's objection, the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office dropped its bid for the death penalty against the two after the election of District Attorney George Gascn, who issued a directive that "a sentence of death is never an appropriate resolution in any case.". Anthony Avalos death: Coroner testifies that 10-year-old's brain showed sustained abuse. Leiva subsequently acknowledged that he had the boy kneel on uncooked rice and admitted that he had rendered him unconscious for about five minutes just days earlier, according to the prosecutor. "I would never think anyone could survive that injury, but he did," Sperber said. At age 10, his 77-pound body showed signs of prolonged abuse. She didn't have the power to say no, Sperber told the judge. The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday approved a $32-million settlement for the siblings and father of 10-year-old Anthony Avalos, who prosecutors say died of abuse and torture at . CHILLING new details have emerged into the horror death of Anthony Avalos, who authorities claim was killed and tortured by his mom and her boyfriend. Maybe it was just to give themselves a reason, I dont know, he said. One of Leivas daughters, who is now 18, testified that she also saw her father repeatedly dropping Anthony on the floor and that the boy appeared to be dead when she saw him two days later. The boy, Anthony Avalos, had recently come out as gay, a county official said, and some suspect that homophobia played a role in his death. She told the judge that Leiva survived his own attempt to slit his throat because he is so evil that the devil didn't even want him. and "Rafael O. Leiva faces an additional count of assault on a child causing death. The boys were also allegedly forbidden from exiting the room to leave the bathroom, which led to further punishment if they soiled themselves. Anthony Avalos 's mother Heather Barron and her boyfriend Kareem Leiva, will will stand trial beginning Sept. 26, Los Angeles Deputy District Attorney Jon Hatami confirmed to Oxygen.com on Friday. In his closing argument, the prosecutor told the judge, I do believe that you will see this was intentional murder by torture.. Long before 10-year-old Anthony Avalos died on Thursday with severe head injuries and cigarette burns covering his body, law enforcement officers and child protective caseworkers documented years of severe abuse allegations, according to sources familiar with the case history. Heather Barron and her boyfriend, Kareem Leiva, who are charged with torturing and murdering Barrons 10-year-old son, Anthony Avalos, during a court appearance in 2018. The murder count includes the special circumstance allegation of murder involving the infliction of torture. But prosecutors say what her son endured was far worse: years of abuse until the very end of his life. A second coroner, Dr. Juan Carrillo, also took the stand on Tuesday. The couple is also suspected of starving and force-feeding the boy, while he was allegedly also thrown into furniture and walls. Published on October 5, 2018 05:57 PM. He died June 21. Those inconsistencies in the evidence will be apparent and once we demonstrate that it will show that what the children claim they say Mr. Leiva doing is inconsistent with the medical evidence, the defense attorney said. ", "Kareem Leiva is evil," Sperber told the court. Teymouri told the judge that there had been multiple contacts with the countys Department of Children and Family Services dating back to 2014. He was being watched between 2013 and 2016 and throughout that period at least 13 calls were reportedly made by concerned teachers, police, relatives and counsellors to the child abuse hotline. The cause of death has not yet been released. Allegations of sexual abuse at the hands of Avalos' grandfather led to his removal. Opening statements began in the trial against Heather Barron her boyfriend Kareem Leiva for the 2018 death and torture of Anthony Avalos. Protesters took to the streets after Anthony Avalos' death Credit: Netflix. Hatami cited the couples inherent cruelty as the motive behind the alleged killing of Anthony, whose injuries and abuse were detailed over the nearly monthlong trial. Dan Chambers said the two major issues will be a lack of intent to kill and the issues of causation.. Hatami told the judge that the prosecution believes that Barron had seven children within eight years because she wanted them for the money she received in government benefits. Anthony Avalos graduated the fourth grade on June 7th, 2018, and for two consecutive weeks he was abused and tortured every single day culminating to when the first responders found his lifeless body on June 20th, Teymouri said. Tragically, the child died as a result of his . Together, they were deadly, Hatami told the judge, explaining that Barron was the one who came up with many of these torture techniques and that she chose Leiva to act as the enforcer for the discipline used on the boy and two of his half-siblings. This case was again brought up as it was similar to the recent case of Anthony Avalos. "Anthony was removed from all the machines and passed away in his hospital room alone," Hatami told the court. Barron and Leiva were charged in June 2018 with the boy's killing and were subsequently indicted by a Los Angeles County grand jury in October 2018. [Anthony] came to our house and his ears had scabs and bruises on it and he said it was from Kareem dragging him around by his ear. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information, $32-million settlement approved in child abuse death of 10-year-old Anthony Avalos, Anthony Avalos family and L.A. County reach tentative $32-million settlement, Counselor who didnt report abuse of Gabriel Fernandez, Anthony Avalos put on 4-year probation, Prosecutors will no longer seek death penalty in the Anthony Avalos torture case, The horrific death of Anthony Avalos and the many missed chances to save him, After boys death, family sues L.A. Countys child welfare agency for $50 million, Anthony Avalos mother and her boyfriend charged with murder of 10-year-old boy, Years of abuse allegations reported at Lancaster home before boy died, Anthony Avalos was extensively tortured over days before dying, prosecutors allege. He was malnourished, suffered from cuts and burns and was repeatedly hit with belts. Both pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder, torture and the abuse of two of Anthony's half-siblings. This is all she has ever known, said Barrons attorney, Nancy Sperber. Last October, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors formally approved a $32 million settlement of a lawsuit filed by the boy's relatives -- two of whom testified last week that they notified the county's Department of Children and Family Services about the alleged abuse. [W]e need to have more transparency to make sure this never happens again to another child.. Heather Barron participated in the torture Heather Barron participated in the abuse.. Boy, 10, Who Was Tortured to Death Was Allegedly Forced to Wrestle Brother While Mom Watched Anthony Avalos died in June one day after being found unresponsive in his family's California home Kareem would have us pinch him or sock him.. According to court papers, lawyers for Hathaway-Sycamores state the plaintiffs make no allegations on what Dixon allegedly witnessed or whether she suspected any abuse not already known by social services. Videos. Both Barron and Leiva have pleaded not guilty, and Anthony's siblings have been removed from the home. This is what a judge had to say. The camera travels from his sunken, bloodshot eyes, down along his bruised torso -- and finally to the still open wounds on both of his tiny knees. "His mom wasn't even there, think about that.". It has subsequently been claimed that homophobia may have been a factor in Anthony's death - in the same way as it was for Gabriel. View Death Records Jessica Avalos. In one of the alerts to the child welfare agency, the assistant principal at Anthonys elementary school called to say Anthony told her he was being forced to dig through trash to find food, and that his mom was beating him, according to the grand jury transcripts. The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday approved a $32-million settlement for the siblings and father of 10-year-old Anthony Avalos, who prosecutors say died of abuse and torture at the hands of his mother and her boyfriend despite repeated warnings to social workers.. The prosecution made its closing arguments this week in the ongoing trial against Heather Barron and Kareem Leiva, both charged with torturing and murdering 10-year-old Anthony Avalos. In the latest twist, court documents revealed the county assigned Barbara Dixon to work with the family despite allegations she failed spot abuse in the case of dead eight-year-old Gabriel Fernandez, whose case was turned into a popular Netflix documentary. by Regina Avalos, February 28, 2023 Citadel is coming to Prime Video in April. California Boy, 10, Who Came Out as Gay Before Death Was Tortured for Days, Prosecutors Say, Moms Boyfriend Arrested After Death of 10-Year-Old Boy Who Had Said He Liked Boys, Many 'Red Flags' but No One to Save Him: Inside the Short Life and Slow Death of 10-Year-Old Anthony Avalos, Homophobia May Not Have Motivated Killing of 10-Year-Old Who Said He 'Liked Boys': Sheriff, Mom's Boyfriend Arrested on Suspicion of Murder After Death of 10-Year-Old Boy Who Had Said He 'Liked Boys', Mother of 10-Year-Old Who Came Out as Gay Weeks Before Death Charged with His Murder and Torture, California Boy, 10, Who Came Out as Gay Before Death Was Tortured for Days: Prosecutors, Boy, 10, Came Out as Gay Just Weeks Before His Suspicious Death, Official Says, Restaurant Manager Saw Bruises on Boy, Then Wrote Sign Asking 'Do You Need Help?' Angel went to live with Garcia and Palma full-time in October 2017, just eight months before Anthony died. Dan Chambers said the two major issues will be "a lack of intent to kill" and the issues of "causation.". It remains unclear why the alleged deadly abuse of Anthony occurred, though DCFS officials have suggested it could be because of Anthonys perceived sexuality after he allegedly stated that he liked boys. Another theory was that Anthony was fathered by a man other than Leiva, unlike Barrons other children. Afterward, she said she was forced to clean it up. CHILLING new details have emerged into the horror death of Anthony Avalos, who authorities claim was killed and tortured by his mom and her boyfriend. Furthermore, he was tortured and murdered by his own mother and her boyfriend at ten years of age. Times staff writer James Queally contributed to this report. Around five years later, the same institution's failure apparently led to the death of another young boy, Anthony Avalos. They remain jailed without bail. Marlee, a SoCal family's beloved dog, not only survived 17 days of disappearance but also made it past a historic snowstorm. Palma testified that she considered herself a stepmother to Angel when she lived with his father between 2015 and 2020. He ultimately died of head trauma. I think whatever happened to Anthony was going to happen anyways.. Authorities allege that, over the last five or six days of his life, Anthony suffered a slew of punishments both quick and prolonged punishments that, in addition to kneeling on rice for lengthy periods, included having hot sauce poured on his face and mouth, being whipped with a belt on his body, legs, buttocks and the bottom of his feet, and being repeatedly held upside-down and dropped on his head. CHILLING new details have emerged into the horror death of Anthony Avalos, who authorities claim was killed and tortured by his mom and her boyfriend. Eyewitness News has obtained a copy of the lengthy . It shows a grossly misguided attempt to discipline a child. It's alleged that Anthony was whipped with a belt and vacuum cord, slapped in the face, had dirty diapers thrown at him, force fed hot sauce, his face was pushed into his own urine in the carpet when he wasn't allowed to use the bathroom -- and at times a sock was stuffed into his mouth to quiet his cries. Barron and Leiva have both pleaded not guilty. The defense lawyer said Leiva had been left alone with the boy who was at home while being punished while Barron took her other children on errands, and was in another room at other times caring for her three youngest children, who had been fathered by Leiva. Anthony Avalos autopsy report says he was tortured almost for five days to a week before his death. Gabriel's parents Pearl Fernandez and her boyfriend Isauro Aguirre are said to have subjected the defenceless boy to the vile attacks because they thought he was gay, according to The Independent. Local - AV Antelope Valley news Anthony Avalos Dept. Anthonys uncle David Barron who is Heather Barrons brother previously told PEOPLE he doesnt know if his sister or her boyfriend knew whether Anthony told others he liked boys. But he says that the widespread abuse in the home that authorities allege seemed to point to something more endemic. (Facebook) El Paso, TX View Divorce . Leiva was in charge of discipline in the house and forced the children to fight each other when they were left in his care when Barron wasn't home, according to Sperber. The innocent 10-year-old died in 2018 after allegedly being brutally beaten and tortured by his mum Heather Barron, 28, and her sicko partner Kareem Ernesto Leiva, 32, who have both pleaded not . Anthony was one of four children in Leiva and Barron's custody who were reportedly victims of abuse that was reported to the child welfare agency from 2013 until Anthony's death in 2018. Theyre nothing short of monsters for what they did, L.A. County Deputy Dist. Both Barron and Leiva have pleaded not guilty, and Anthony's siblings have been removed from the home. He was whipped all over his body, was held upside-down and dropped on his head, sprayed with hot sauce in his eyes, nose, and mouth, and forced to kneel on rice for several hours. ", Soon after that, Barron asked Palma and Garcia to take Angel full-time. His 7-year-old brother testified that he was forced to wrestle his brother until he hurt him, sometimes with Anthonys mother and boyfriend in the room watching. Leivas attorney countered that the evidence would demonstrate that there is reasonable doubt involving the murder charge against his client. "I'm not saying these children are lying," said Chambers. The lawsuit cited other high-profile deaths of children who were also being monitored by the DCFS -- 8-year-old Gabriel Fernandez and 4-year-old Noah Cuatro, both of Palmdale -- to allege "systemic failures" in the agency. 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