Netflix Documentary Series The trial of Gabriel Fernandez Investigate the 2013 murder of an 8-year-old boy in Palmdale, California. Told in six parts and released in February 2020, this six-part true-crime story details the systemic injustice that prevented Gabriel Fernandez from receiving legal protection from his abuser. .
On May 24, 2013, Fernandez died two days later after being found unconscious with his skull crushed and three broken ribs. He was also hit by a BB gun as the bullets entered his lungs and groin. Three months later, Pearl Fernandez (Gabriel’s mother) and her boyfriend, Isolo Aguirre, are accused of torturing and killing Gabriel. In 2017, Aguirre was found guilty of beating Gabriel and sentenced to death, while Fernandez later pleaded guilty to first-degree murder and was sentenced to life in prison. The trial of Gabriel Fernandez on Netflix Graphic images are included, but mainly cover the plot and consequences.
Gabriel Fernandez’s death has raised questions about why the boy was not getting proper help after showing up at school with bruised eyes and cigarette burns on his face. In addition, the tragedy raises questions about how social workers determine who needs the most help and when. This is the biggest revelation The trial of Gabriel Fernandez on Netflix.
Gabriel was raised by three families
Gabriel Fernandez was not raised by his mother and Aguirre. Three days after Gabriel was born, Pearl Fernandez gave him to his uncle Michael Lemos Carranza, who, along with his partner David Martinez, took care of him for four years. Gabriel’s grandparents, Robert and Sandra Fernandez, worried about the child being raised by a gay couple, eventually won custody. Carranza is presumed dead in 2014; Martinez appeared in the Netflix documentary and denied allegations that he and Carranza harassed Gabriel.
In October 2012, Pearl Fernandez received custody of her son. So Gabriel spent the last six months of his life with the man who would eventually kill him. The trial of Gabriel Fernandez The subject’s growing up with Carranza, Martinez, and his grandparents isn’t much explored on Netflix, but it does reveal that he lived with siblings Ezequiel and Virginia for the last months of his life. Gabriel’s estranged father, Arnold Contreras, appeared on camera for the documentary and received a positive review from District Attorney Jon Hatami.
Aguirre feeds Gabriel toilet sand and accuses him of being gay
When the police found Gabriel, they initially thought he might be suffering from some kind of illness because of his appearance. However, authorities later found obvious injuries on the boy and spoke to Aguirre and Pearl Fernandez about what happened. According to Battalion Chief of Firefighters Anthony Bouzerio, stated “Futile” couple is “Debatable.” In the Netflix documentary series, Deputy Jonathan Baker testified that Pearl seemed most interested in her cat. According to Hatami, both Aguirre and Pearl say Gabriel is “dirty“and a “liar.” EMT Matthew Bistline also testified that Aguirre had stated that the victim was gay. It was later revealed that Gabriel was also forced to wear a skirt.exist The trial of Gabriel FernandezThe last section deals with the murder of another Glendale child in 2018, Anthony Avalos, a 10-year-old boy who is said to have been tortured on suspicion of being gay and killed.
Gabriel’s autopsy revealed “Elastic material” was found in his stomach. Stephan Schliebe, a senior crime specialist with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, testified that he performed two tests that showed the contents of Gabriel’s stomach were consistent with cat feces. At the time of his death, Gabriel did not have any stores of fat (or any food) in his body, and his sister Virginia later told authorities she witnessed scene of his brother being fed dirty cat poop as punishment. The trial of Gabriel Fernandez On Netflix it is implied that Pearl and Aguirre only want Gabriel for welfare money.
Gabriel shows affection for his mother at school
Halfway through the Netflix documentary series, Gabriel’s teacher, Jennifer Garcia, discusses the final weeks of the boy’s life. She recalled the feeling when Gabriel went to school “bad,” Because his eyes are puffy. Gabriel claimed that he had fallen, only to reveal that he had been shot in the face by a BB gun. Garcia testified that Gabriel’s alleged abuse was “worse” Her comments will allow the documentary series to further explore the warning signs ignored by the Department of Children and Family Services whenever a social worker visits his home.
After the BB gun incident, Garcia said Gabriel walked away for a long time before showing up at school with obvious injuries, scaring his classmates. Garcia also revealed that she knew Gabriel’s wound had healed, so it was likely that the wound from a few days ago was more serious. However, she still misses Gabriel “Looks like he’s not mad at his mother.” She recalls Gabriel working on the Mother’s Day project and describes Pearl as “special,” “alike,” And “beautiful.” The boy also made coupons for his mother to read “I will be fine.” Gabriel was killed two weeks later. Prosecutors later ruled that Pearl’s crimes did not merit the death penalty because of her low IQ.
Social workers ignore or fail to recognize warning signs
In the Netflix documentary series, scenes involving Garcia feature lengthy commentary on the system failure that led to Gabriel’s death. Garcia remembers calling social worker Stephanie Rodriguez with concerns and never getting a response. It was later revealed that Rodriguez classified various incidents into “ACCIDENT” In her report, not in the so-called “Human figure.” According to people interviewed in The trial of Gabriel FernandezRodriguez’s superiors took “let’s go” method. In fact, social worker Patricia Clement made false statements about Gabriel’s case and even dated the papers back, apparently to protect herself from prosecution.
Four social workers were eventually fired and faced charges of complicity in Gabriel’s death, including Gregory Merritt (pictured above), who spoke heavily and defended his actions in the series Netflix documentary. In the end, a California appeals court ordered that all charges be dismissed. DCFS sequence in The trial of Gabriel Fernandez Decipher how to analyze child abuse cases today, most notably how algorithms are used through the Allegheny Family Screening Tool to identify individuals who appear to be the most notable.
Gabriel’s siblings provide prosecutors with clear evidence
The trial of Gabriel Fernandez The show on Netflix speculates on the killer’s motives and includes numerous on-camera interviews with crime scene evidence. Additionally, law enforcement officials discussed what they saw on the day Gabriel was killed. At the end of the documentary series, former psychotherapist Wendy Smith makes observations about police interviews with Gabriel’s siblings, Ezequiel and Virginia. “Initially trying to keep a facade,” and how difficult it is to deal with “Slowly release the burden.”
During the trial, both Ezequiel and Virginia testified and clarified exactly what happened to Gabriel in the months leading up to his death. Not only was he forced to eat cat poop, but he was also locked in a crate (a room with two beds) at night. Gabriel was also handcuffed and had a hood around his mouth. When authorities arrive at Gabriel’s house, he usually hides in a box with Pearl. His teeth were broken with a baseball bat; he was punished for being “gay”. On May 22, 2013, Gabriel was punched twice by Aguirre and then beaten 18 times, including 10 times in the head. Aguirre was clearly angry when Gabriel, an 8-year-old boy, called Pearl a liar. The sixth and final part The trial of Gabriel Fernandez Review of court proceedings and legal ramifications on Netflix.