Gabriel Fernandez

Calls about suspected child abuse are down during the coronavirus pandemic, raising fears that cases are not being reported. Lolita Lopez reports for the NBC4 News on Friday, May 29, 2020.

Seven years ago this week the death of 8-year-old Gabriel Fernandez put a spotlight on weaknesses within Los Angeles’ child welfare system. Now social workers fear more abused children will continue to suffer unseen because of the coronavirus pandemic. The NBCLA I-Team took to the streets with Sylvia Lopez, an emergency social worker, before her regular 4 p.m. to 2:30…

Prosecutors will drop charges against four social workers in the case of Gabriel Fernandez. Lolita Lopez reports for the NBC4 News at 5 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 21, 2020.

A state appeals court panel refused Thursday to reconsider its ruling that directed a lower court to dismiss charges against four social workers who were accused of failing to protect an 8-year-old Antelope Valley boy killed in May 2013. Los Angeles County prosecutors had asked the three-justice panel to either re-hear or modify its opinion in the case of social…

A California appeals court on Monday threw out criminal charges against four former social workers over the 2013 torture-death of an 8-year-old boy. In a 2-1 ruling, a panel of the California 2nd District Court of Appeal found that the Los Angeles County social workers couldn’t be charged with child abuse and falsifying public records in the death of Gabriel…

A state appeals court has thrown out criminal charges against four social workers over the 2013 torture-death of 8-year-old Gabriel Fernandez. It’s now up to the dfistrict attorney to decide what to do next. Patrick Healy reports for the NBC4 News at 5 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2019.

After ten months of investigation, authorities arrested and charged a 21-year-old mother in the death of her child from blunt force neck trauma.

The great-grandmother of a 4-year-old Palmdale boy whose death was originally reported as a drowning but has led to an investigation of possible child abuse filed a multimillion-dollar damages claims against the county, the first step toward a lawsuit, her attorney announced Wednesday.

Relatives of a 10-year-old Lancaster boy who died after what prosecutors allege was extensive torture by his mother and her boyfriend announced a $50 million lawsuit against the county Thursday, alleging social workers botched the handling of his case.

The family blames the Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services for the death of Anthony Avalos. Ted Chen reports for the NBC4 News at 4 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 1, 2019.

The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors approved a policy Tuesday clarifying that county employees shall be held accountable for lying.

A private funeral will be held Thursday for 4-year-old Noah Cuatro whose suspicious death is being investigated by the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.

Los Angeles County supervisors are asking for a full review of how the county handled the case of 4-year-old Noah Cuatro before he died. Lolita Lopez reports for the NBC4 News at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, July 16, 2019.

Los Angeles County supervisors are asking for a full review of how the county handled the case of 4-year-old Noah Cuatro before he died.

A boy who died Saturday under suspicious circumstances in Palmdale could have been removed from the custody of his parents in May, the NBC4 I-Team has learned.

An investigation was underway Wednesday into the death of a 4-year-old Palmdale boy who was reported to have been injured in a near drowning but had trauma injuries that raised suspicion about how he died.

LA County supervisors say they want to know when changes will happen at the Department of Children and Family Services. Lolita Lopez reports for NBC4 News at 5 p.m. on May 28, 2019.

Los Angeles County’s child welfare agency leaves some youngsters in unsafe and abusive situations for months because social workers fail to consistently and quickly complete abuse and neglect investigations, according to a report released by the state auditor.