The tragic murder of little Anthony Avalos: Mom and boyfriend found guilty of torturing 10-yr-old boy
If you or anyone you know suspects child abuse, you are urged to immediately call the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-4-A-Child or 1-800-422-4453, or go to www.childhelp.org. All calls are toll-free and confidential and the hotline is available 24/7 in more than 170 languages.
LOS ANGLES, CALIFORNIA: Heather Barron, a woman, and her boyfriend, Kareem Ernesto Leiva, were harshly criticized by the judge of the Los Angeles County Superior Court after they were found guilty of the horrific torture and death of Anthony Avalos. The two were also found guilty on two charges of abusing Avalos' half-siblings.
The 10-year-old Avalos died in 2018 after being brutally assaulted and tormented by Barron, 33, and Leiva, 37. Judge Sam Ohta came to the conclusion that the California duo "derived pleasure from seeing Anthony suffer" and he detailed the horrible torture that included malnutrition, dehydration, and cold-blooded beatings. That follows arguments from Barron's legal team that she had battered woman syndrome and was a "slave" to Leiva's abuse. Judge Ohta, however, asserts that the evidence shows that "both defendants Leiva and Barron at separate times independently went into Anthony's room" and locked him inside. "This meant each had to lock his door when each exited," the judge said. "This was clearly a purposeful and coordinated action by both the parents."
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'Many would risk their own lives to save the life of their child'
The judge cited a number of times when the mother of Avalos may have been able to assist him, including a visit to the hospital the day before he was declared dead. Judge Ohta stated, "Common sense indicates parents usually consider their children's lives more precious than their own, and many would risk their own lives to save the life of their child."
Judge Ohta noted that Barron might not have sought assistance because of her boyfriend, but she could have done so if he "did not have immediate access to hurting her." He said, "Most, if not all, reasonable parents, under those circumstances, would choose the life of the child as paramount and would have told the medical staff the truth to try and save her child."
What charges are Heather Barron and Kareem Ernesto Leiva facing?
Barron and Leiva might now spend the rest of their lives behind bars with no chance of release after being charged with first-degree murder in June 2018. They will receive their sentence on April 25. It comes after the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors authorized a $32 million settlement in October 2022 with the rest of Anthony's family, who sued social workers for allegedly mishandling the matter, according to The Sun.
How did Anthony Avalos die?
Authorities stated that Avalos had been repeatedly dropped on his head while being dangled from a height and died in the hospital from a brain bleed, according to the Sun. Prosecutors claim that the boy was tormented to the point of "extreme physical pain and suffering" before being carried in with fatal injuries.
Avalos was allegedly tortured by being denied access to the bathroom and burned with cigarettes. Doctors stated that he seemed "severely malnourished and dehydrated," according to the Sun. The doctor discovered that Avalos had broken his hip after being thrown into a room's corner. He also had knee injuries, according to a doctor's testimony, which suggested that he was made to kneel on uncooked rice. He died on June 21, 2018, early in the morning, after being admitted to the hospital.