A woman and her boyfriend from California could possibly face death penalty after being convicted of torturing the woman's 10-year-old son and killing him in the process, according to reports. The child was repeatedly whipped on the bottom of his feet with a belt, body-slammed, and even forced to kneel on rice, according to authorities.

The couple, identified as 29-year-old Heather Barron and 32-year-old Kareem Leiva, pleaded not guilty to all criminal charges against them, including murder involving the infliction of torture. The child, Anthony Avalos, reportedly died on June 2, a week after incessant torture allegedly inflicted on him by the duo.

Deputy District Attorney Jonathan Hatami, during the trial, said that Barron and Leiva, in the days leading up to the boy's death, allegedly poured hot sauce on the boy's face, gave him rug burns, and dropped him on his head after dangling him upside down, a report in the Los Angeles Times said.

Further reports state that the Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services received multiple tips about the boy being abused in the couple's house, however, they continued to allow the boy to remain in their home.

An attorney representing the boy's relatives said that the agency reportedly probed nearly 88 claims of abuse dating back to 2013 and at least two of 15 substantiated claims involved sexual abuse.

The LA County Sheriff’s Department said that shortly after Anthony's death, seven other children, between 11 months and 12 years old, were removed from the home. According to the Times report, in one instance Leiva hit Anthony's younger brother with so much force that the child required medical attention and staples to close a head wound. 

Reports state that Leiva also hit at least three other siblings with a hose, hurled dirty diapers at them and made them squat against a wall for long periods of time. 

Both Barron and Leiva are scheduled to return to court for another hearing on November 27, according to reports.