Gabriel Fernandez Update: Boy, 8, died amid numerous missed warning signs of abuse, report says
(CBS/AP) LOS ANGELES - Gabriel Fernandez, an 8-year-old boy who died last week after allegedly being badly beaten, had remained in the house where the abuse occurred despite six investigations by Los Angeles County social workers over the past decade.
The Los Angeles Times reports county documents show social workers appeared to miss numerous warning signs at the home and failed to intervene even after the boy's teacher told authorities he often appeared bruised and battered.
The documents also show that the 8-year-old had written a note saying he was thinking about suicide.
Gabriel died at an L.A.-area hospital on May 24. He had a fractured skull, broken ribs and two teeth knocked out. CBS Los Angeles reports the boy also had cigarette burns on his body, abrasions on his ankles and bruises all over his body.
Gabriel's mother, 29-year-old Pearl Fernandez, and her boyfriend, 32-year-old Isauro Aguirre, were arrested May 23 and were charged with capital murder and a special-circumstance allegation of torture yesterday.
County documents obtained by the Los Angeles Times show Aguirre allegedly said he beat the boy repeatedly for lying and being dirty. According to CBS Los Angeles, the mother was present during periods of assault and did not intervene.
According to the LA Times, at the time of the boy's death, an open complaint with Los Angeles County social workers had been pending for over 60 days.