Balloons filled the sky, released by a large crowd of people gathered Saturday in front of a modest apartment building in Palmdale. They were for Gabriel Fernandez, a small child who was tortured and killed at the hands of his mother, Pearl Fernandez, and her boyfriend, Isauro Aguirre, 13 years ago.
If Gabriel had survived, he would have turned 21 years old last Friday, Feb. 20.
His cousin Emily Carranza said they held the event so that people “never forget” about Gabriel and all the other children who continue to be abused. At the location where Gabriel was victimized, information and resource booths were set up to offer assistance to those who may need help. “We are honoring Gabriel and spreading child abuse awareness,” said Carranza.
The prosecuting attorney in the murder trial, Jon Hatami, who successfully put Gabriel’s abusers in prison, attended the weekend event.
Hatami told the crowd that he continues to think of Gabriel.
“If you loved Gabriel, if you care about him, if you know his story, if you know what happened, all of you have a responsibility to try to do something to help Gabriel.
“Be a better dad, or a better mom, or a better grandma or a better grandpa, because that’s one thing Gabriel gave me,” said Hatami. “I believe I’m a better dad, a better person and a better prosecutor knowing Gabriel’s story, knowing Gabriel’s family.”
“Gabriel has touched many lives,” said Carranza. “This week, the city of Huntington Park marked the month of February as Gabriel Fernandez Month. Their City Council all spoke about the impact Gabriel made on their lives and wanted to present this plaque in his honor. I graciously accepted as a family member, an advocate for child abuse, but most importantly, for Gabriel’s memory. It’s important that people never forget Gabriel.”
Carranza maintains that with continued awareness, the lives of other children can be saved. She acknowledged the continued efforts of Hatami and Assemblyman Tom Lakey, who also attended the event. Lakey has attempted to pass Gabriel’s Law to mandate better data sharing and investigation.
At the event, three scholarships were awarded to Antelope Valley College students who wrote essays about the impact of Gabriel’s story.
Both Fernandez and Aguirre are in prison. Aguirre was sentenced to death and Fernandez is serving a life sentence without the possibility of parole, although she has requested a hearing attempting to receive a lesser sentence.
In 2013, 8-year-old Gabriel was subjected to daily torture by his mother and her boyfriend, who were entrusted to care for him. He was burned with cigarettes, shot with a BB gun, forced to eat spoiled food, cat litter and feces, and was locked in a small kitchen cabinet and beaten to death.
The testimony in the case was chilling and exposed severe failures within the Los Angeles County child welfare system.
Carranza, with others, formed the Gabriel’s Justice website and the Warrior Sisters organization to advocate and fight for justice for child victims.
Since the death of Gabriel, they have called attention to other fatal child abuse cases, including 10-year-old Anthony Avalos and 4-year-old Noah Cuatro.