Gabriel Fernandez

Family and friends remembered Gabriel Fernandez on what would have been his 17th birthday. As seen on air on Feb. 20, 2022. 

A judge Tuesday rejected a bid for re-sentencing by a Palmdale woman who pleaded guilty to the first-degree murder of her 8-year-old son, who was routinely beaten, starved, forced to sleep in a closet and tortured until his death eight years ago. Pearl Fernandez, now 37, was sentenced in March 2018 to life in prison without the possibility of parole…

Relatives of a 10-year-old Lancaster boy who died after allegedly being subjected to extensive torture by his mother and her boyfriend lost a round in court today when a judge ruled they cannot seek punitive damages against a Pasadena agency that provided mental health services to the child. Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Michelle Williams Court granted a motion to...

A judge dismissed charges Thursday against four social workers who were accused of failing to protect an 8-year-old Antelope Valley boy whose mother and her boyfriend were convicted in his torture and May 2013 death. Lolita Lopez reports for the NBC4 News on Wednesday, July 15, 2020.

A judge dismissed charges against four social workers who were accused of failing to protect an 8-year-old Antelope Valley boy whose mother and her boyfriend were convicted of his May 2013 torture death. Lolita Lopez reports for the NBC4 News on Thursday, July 16, 2020.

A judge dismissed charges Thursday against four social workers who were accused of failing to protect an 8-year-old Antelope Valley boy whose mother and her boyfriend were convicted in his torture and May 2013 death. District Attorney Jackie Lacey announced in February that “state law is not on our side” in the case of Stefanie Rodriguez and Patricia Clement and…

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 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.

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…

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.