But things could have been so different for Gabriel if hed been allowed to continue living with other relatives. However, medical staff instantly realised it was much worse as they noticed injuries covering his entire body. For the first four years of his life, Gabriel lived with his great-uncle Michael Lemos Carranza and his partner David Martinez after Pearl gave the child away. Social worker Stefanie Rodriguez and other representatives of child protection agencies also visited Gabriel's home on a number of occasions. The horrifying murder was detailed in Netflix documentary The Trials of Gabriel Fernandez. "They can't fight for themselves, they can't speak out for themselves. The power for change, Hatami says, is reflected in a growing memorial. Sadly Michael died in 2014, just 16 months after Gabriel. PALMDALE, Calif. -- This weekend marks seven years since parental child abuse. Gabriel's uncle, Chris Contreras, is breaking his silence. "I can't tell you how many people I've spoken to that have chosen a career path in social services because they say they want to make a difference," Contreras said. In Netflix's The Trials of Gabriel Fernandez, Gabriel's relationship with Carranza and Martinez is described as the most loving, but what happened to his great-uncle? At least those people are going to do their part and I know that children have been saved due to his story," Contreras said. 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. 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.". It was her uncle, Michael Lemos Carranza, and his partner, David Martinez, who took care of Gabriel Fernandez during the first year of his life. "He was my baby," David said. The Sun website is regulated by the Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO), Our journalists strive for accuracy but on occasion we make mistakes. All Rights Reserved. Aguirre was sentenced to death. All rights reserved. "Children are still getting killed. And in January this year, a motion to rehear the appeals court decision was denied and the criminal case against these four is not progressing further. "We have added thousands of case workers, which have increased the capability of us to be able to work very closely with families," said Bobby Cagle, director of the Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services. The head of DCFS says since Gabriel's death, the system has been overhauled. A new voice joined the outcry. Robert Fernandez's account of this, however, differs. Gabriel Fernandez: Did Gabriel Fernandez's parents die? "How many people have named their children after Gabriel, my five year old son's middle name is Gabriel.". Im sorry to my children, and I want them to know that I love them. Sadly, just 16 months after Gabriels death, 46-year-old Michael Lemos Carranza died on September 17, 2014. You see his pictures as a baby, he was always smiling. She also recalls seeing "cigarette marks like people had been putting cigarettes out on him". When we got to the hospital the day before, he was still alive, and he was going to talk to me. Instead, they never got the chance. In an interview with ABC7, Contreras finally broke his silence, to mark the seven years since Gabriel's deaeth. RELATED: Palmdale mother gets life prison term, boyfriend sentenced to death in 8-year-old's torture-killing. "As far as Canada, they come. However, before he turned 4, the little boy began living with his grandparents Robert and Sandra Fernandez. Fernandez left the hospital the day her youngest son was born, The Cinemaholic reveals. I feel like theyre with me to this moment, he said. Seven years later, the boy's story has traveled worldwide, and mourners have had questions. "They need somebody else to do it, but especially during this time. In the doc, he says, "ICE got hold of me. But the question remains whether it was just one of the thugs driving the abuse, or if they were both equally culpable. "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. Following this, Martinez was deported by Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE) back to his native El Salvador. 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. In Netflixs documentary, Michaels partner David Martinez recalls: She didnt want him and the family didnt want her to have him. "As far as Canada, they come. This is despite LA County District Attorney Jackie Lacey previously telling NBC Los Angeles she stood by the charges, stating: There ought to be some criminal consequences.. "Something brings it back in. Fernandez lived with Robert and Sandra until he was 7, at which point Pearl and Aguirre took him back. The boy's uncle said he and his wife have adopted two of the boy's siblings, telling jurors that the children experience feelings of guilt about what happened to their younger brother. Before his death, Gabriel Fernandez didnt always live with his mother his uncles Michael Lemos Carranza and David Martinez were also a big part of his life. Those who knew Gabriel best talked to ABC7 about the boy. We use your sign-up to provide content in the ways you've consented to and improve our understanding of you. He is now and will forever be with his Gabriel.. May you both be hugging and laughing. Water gushes for days with no one stopping it, Couple had 'no respect' dumping close to a church, ABC13 viewer says. According to a cousin who runs a Facebook page in the little boys honor, Carranza passed away in September 2014, a year and a half after Fernandezs death in May 2013. For him, it's personal. The Trials of Gabriel Fernandez details the horrendous abuse Gabriel endured, which also included forcing him to eat cat faeces, burning him with cigarettes and locking him in a cabinet. He saw how it opened minds and hearts. It would give an officer on an abuse call a way to quickly check for DCFS history and alert the caseworker. Why No One Saved Gabriel Fernandez. But Contreras says a door opened recently. One of the most distressing elements of Gabriel's case was that he wrote a suicide note, aged eight. "What they did is almost as bad as what Pearl and Isauro did," he said. Netflix's hit true crime show The Trials of Gabriel Fernandez mostly takes place in and around Palmdale, California, where the torture and brutal murder of the 8-year-old Gabriel Fernandez took place. The docuseries briefly goes into Gabriel's time under their care, years before his mother, Pearl, and her boyfriend, Isauro Aguirre, brutally killed the 8-year-old. A position rejected by Hatami. Fernandez's parents, Robert and Sandra, helped raise the child as well, looking after him between 2005 and 2012. When he was 3 days old, Pearl sent her son to live with Michael. 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. 2023 Vox Media, LLC. The children testified about the bat, the BB guns, the box where Gabriel was confined, and accusations that he was gay. PALMDALE, Calif. (KABC) -- This weekend marks seven years since parental child abuse took the life of 8-year-old Gabriel Fernandez. I feel like they are here with me too.". "They can't fight for themselves, they can't speak out for themselves," said Deputy District Attorney Jon Hatami. ", Love Island fans' horror as axed Olivia handed power to destroy TWO other stars, Frogmore eviction shows King's drawn a line with Harry, Strictly star bags life-changing EastEnders role as part of new family, Baby's body found after huge search as cops quiz Constance Marten & lover, News Group Newspapers Limited in England No. For him, it's personal. 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. While 19-stone security guard Isauro was known to have beaten four stone Gabriel unconscious, Pearl's relatives suspect she was really the boss when it came to some of the most horrific torture. She contemplated abortion on several occasions and would have gone through with it had her uncle had not convinced her to have the baby. 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.". But Gov. Her theory was that Pearl told authorities that it was bigger boys that were harming her son, not her and her partner. Seven years later, Gabriel's story has traveled worldwide. Carranza's death meant he never saw justice for the little boy he loved so much. They need somebody else to do it, but especially during this time. A position rejected by Hatami. Meanwhile, his siblings described watching their brother being forced to eat cat litter and have cold baths while being pepper sprayed. Here are some of the mysteries about Gabriel's tragic story which still haven't been resolved. The systemic failings of the system designed to protect vulnerable children in Los Angeles are exposed too. "They can't fight for themselves, they can't speak out for themselves. In the documentary, Martinez explains that he currently lives in El Salvador after being deported by ICE. This service is provided on News Group Newspapers' Limited's Standard Terms and Conditions in accordance with our Privacy & Cookie Policy. Isauro is currently on death row at San Quentin Prison and Pearl is incarcerated at Chowchilla Womens Prison, both in California. THE uncle of 8-year-old Gabriel Fernandez, who died after years of abuse at the hands of his mother and her boyfriend, has spoken out for the first time since the child's death in 2013. But she claims that not only did the LAPD not believe the horrific things Gabriel said were happening to him, they told him to stop lying. She will never be released from prison. Gabriel Fernandez was born to a mother, Pearl Fernandez, that didn't know how to love him. But two people - his great uncle and his partner - did care for him. Please note that this form cannot be used to reset your Google or Facebook password. "I know that those that have heard or seen his story. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. The Netflix documentary, "The Trials of Gabriel Fernandez", they watched it together. The Netflix documentary, "The Trials of Gabriel Fernandez", they watched it together. The Trials of Gabriel Fernandez is a full brown reveal of the life and death of an eight. At least those people are going to do their part and I know that children have been saved due to his story," Contreras said. "I know that those that have heard or seen his story. He was declared brain dead and taken off life support two days later. The proposal is pushed by Gabriel's cousin Emily Carranza who pins blame on Gabriel's social workers. Martinez says of the claims: "The allegations were false, we never sexually abused Gabriel at all. 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