Mother Jailed For Life And Boyfriend Given Death Sentence After Torturing & Killing 8-Year-Old Son
Pearl Fernandez, 34, and her boyfriend Isauro Aguirre, 37, were arrested in May 2013 after they took their 8-year-old son, Gabriel, to a Los Angeles hospital after he stopped breathing. Gabriel had BB gun pellets lodged in his lung and groin and a fractured skull, and died shortly afterwards.
The months prior to Gabriel’s death, he had been tortured by his mother and her boyfriend because they thought he was gay. The boy was locked in cabinets, beaten with bats, and even shot with BB guns. Yesterday, Los Angeles Superior County Court Judge George Lomeli said this is the worst case he has ever saw in the 20 years he had been on the bench.
“In my almost 20 years on the bench in this court, this case is without a doubt the most aggravated and egregious case this court has ever witnessed. It’s beyond animalistic because animals know how to take care of their young.” he said.
During the trial, the court heard how Pearl and Isauro force fed Gabriel feces, and locked him in cabinets blindfolded to sleep. Prosecutors also described how the pair systematically abused Gabriel, and apparently tried to hide their abuse by putting the 8-year-old in ice baths to hide the bruises.
“I can only wish…that in the middle of the night you wake up, and you think of the injuries that you subjected on this poor young man, this poor 7-year-old, and that it tortures you,” Judge Lomeli said.
Pearl has been sentenced to life in prison, while her boyfriend is to be executed after being given a death sentence.
