She knewas so many of the schools staff members knewthat Gabriel was in danger at home. When the charges were announced, Browning made a statement describing Gabriels case as an isolated incident and describing the four defendants as outliers whose actions shouldnt reflect on the department as a whole. Chippewa Valley Museum in need of Summer volunteers. Almost three years had passed since Gabriels death, and many people had all but forgotten that a criminal review was under way. charged with child abuse and falsifying public records, Pearl Sinthia Fernandez, was sentenced to life in prison, while her boyfriend, Isauro Aguirre, was sentenced to death. If the case went to trial and Rodriguez, Clement, Bom, and Merritt had been found guilty, they could have faced up to 10 years in prison each. One, addressed to his mother, said, I love you so much that I will die. Others stated he wanted to kill himself. Theres hardly a night I dont dream about the department, she told me. Garcia testified she repeatedly reported suspected abuse to social workers who failed to prevent his death. This button displays the currently selected search type. Nor did she ever interview Gabriel or his siblings alone, as is required by department policy because many children who fear additional abuse recant their stories if the perpetrator is present. Still, Gabriel seemed desperate to win his mothers affection. Name. On file we have 129 email addresses and 83 phone numbers associated with Stefanie in area codes such as 813, 347, 718, 281, 256, and 32 other area codes. (Hons.) The Second District California Appellate Court heard arguments from lawyers representing Kevin Bom, Stefanie Rodriguez, Gregory Merritt and Patricia Clement. Pearl was yelling at Gabriel, who had cigarette burns on his head and neck and marks on his wrists from being tied up. Medical, Dental and Vision Insurance Benefits. Gabriel told her that the bruises on his face were because he had fallen while playing tag. The appellate court formally sent the matter back to the lower court in April and Lomeli was expected to officially drop the charges on Thursday. As a general rule, caseworkers worry most about children who arent seen by people outside the home. Unlike his brother Justin, Steven Assanti does not have a very visible social media presence. Gabriel Fernandez: Is Pearl Fernandez still in prison? County policy requires workers in Merritts position to read the entire file before approving a closure, but the departments manual ran to 6,000 pages. Ezequiel, who was now 16, had a faint mustache and a face shaped like Gabriels. In 2017, social workers Stefanie Rodriguez, Patricia Clement, and supervisors Kevin Bom and Gregory Merritt, were charged with child abuse and falsifying public records. Stefanie Rodriguez Found 287 people in California, New York and 39 other states View contact information: phones, addresses, emails and networks. Martinez approached the window where Pearl had been talking with a clerk, Maricela Corona, to ask whether she was going to report Pearl to the authorities. The next year, California passed the first state law mandating that doctors report suspected child abuse and neglect. Stefanie Rodriguez is an actress, known for Phil the Alien (2004). They claimed to have never found strong enough signs of abuse in order to remove Gabriel from the house. By contrast, Virginia, 14, appeared unable to escape her memories. Gabriel's mother, Pearl Fernandez, and her boyfriend, Isauro Aguirre, were both charged and convicted of first degree murder with special circumstances of torture. When she was finally alone with him at recess, she asked what had happened. She said yes because some parents spank their children, but asked him again about it at recess. However, Lomeli is expected to dismiss the charges at 8:30 a.m Thursday. he temperature outside was already in the 80s on the morning last fall when Ezequiel and Virginia testified in Isauro Aguirres murder trial. Due to over 60 complaints filed against Pearl Fernandez and Isauro Aguirre between 2003 and 2012, there were 8 investigations of them by the LA County Child Protective Services and the Department of Children and Family Services. The county medical examiner who performed his autopsy told the grand jury that he had never witnessed so many skin injuries on a child. But the program worried Philip Browning, whod become the head of the Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services in 2011. Youd see people in the office that made you wonder, Wow, how did they get through the gates? Merritt told me. Jennifer Garcia began calling social workers in 2012. Partner with a local real estate agent to find the home or apartment that's right for you Stefanie Rodriguez, Real Estate Agent - Compass He had broken ribs. Let me stop you there. Both were soon fired from the department, as were their supervisors, Gregory Merritt and Kevin Bom. Four social workers: Kevin Bom, Greg Merritt, Stefanie Rodriguez and Patricia Clement were charged with child endangerment which resulted in death, and falsification of public documents. The pendulum swung, and the United States saw a nearly 25 percent drop in the number of children in foster care from 2002 to 2012. Meet the model and actress, Jeremy Bamber: Killer serving life sentence on road with ironic name. The server responded with {{status_text}} (code {{status_code}}). She claimed to social workers that she had concerns about how he was being treated but family members say she wanted Gabriels welfare benefits. It was meant to be used for lower-risk cases, but a later review found that the department was taking chances on parents who would not have been eligible for family-preservation services had their cases reached the courts. Social Work Intern Sarah Vretas, M.A., LPC Clinical Fellow Mariah Willis, B.A., CT Clinical Counseling Intern Counseling and Consultation Service - Office of Student Life CCS Main Office: Younkin Success Center (4th Floor), 1640 Neil Avenue, Columbus, OH 43201 . The mother and her boyfriend were convicted of the torture murder. The educator said the boy appeared anxious about his homework and feared to go home sometimes. May 21, 2022 . Apply via Dice today! So what? In July 2015, according to Los Angeles Times, prosecutors looked into giving both Fernandez and Aguirre the death penalty to repent for their horrific actions. Gabriel at School Just Before Mother's Day. Lomeli also handled the social worker case and in 2018 had denied a motion to dismiss the charges, saying the boy's death was "foreseeable.". Rodriguez visited the familys apartment, but again Gabriel recanted. Merritt was on antidepressants, and he rarely left the house. Did he ever have to eat anything weird? Hatami asked. he next day, the principal at Summerwind called Garcia into his office to tell her that Gabriel was dead. Social workers Stephanie Rodriguez and Patricia Clement visited the Fernandez family home on multiple occasions but both workers claimed they never saw signs of abuse that would require. I drove around aimlessly for a while and lost track of time.. Los Angeles County social workers Stefanie Rodriguez, Patricia Clement, Kevin Bom and Gregory Merritt, were charged with two felony counts in relation to the death of Fernandez on April 7,. Express. Have a seat. Then he admonished her, We dont investigate. Sign up here for our free newsletters. Well send you the latest headlines every morning and every weekday afternoon. In an 2-1 opinion, the panel concluded that there was no probable cause to hold the two social workers and their supervisors on charges of child abuse and falsifying documents. The question today is whether the felony counts against four social workers will be dismissed, reduced or stand. On the rare days when Gabriel came to class, she told him to be good and never give his mother a reason to get angry. Rodriguez assured the teacher she would investigate, but matters got worse for Gabriel in November 2012. Gabriel moved in with his mother and her boyfriend, Isauro Aguirre, as well as two siblings: an 11-year-old brother named Ezequiel and a 9-year-old sister, Virginia. The jurors deliberated for five hours before finding Aguirre guilty of torture and murder. and M.Sc. County Payment of Employees' Retirement Contributions. Stefanie Rodriguez, 34; Patricia Clement, 69; Kevin Bom, 40; and Gregory Merritt, 64, were charged with child abuse and falsifying public records. After Jennifer Garcia called the hotline, it fell to Rodriguez to investigate and assess Gabriels safety. The area had seen an influx of poor families, and the number of calls to the child-abuse hotline was rising faster there than anywhere else in Southern California. In a blue suit and a rumpled white shirt, he slouched just above the microphone, rocking from side to side in a swivel chair as lawyers asked him about his brother. In January 2020 California 2nd District Court of Appeals threw out the charges against the four former social workers. Garcia called the principal to the room to take a look at Gabriels head. Sleeping Pods. Rodriguez, Clement, as well as two of their supervisors, Bom and Merritt were charged with one felony count of child abuse and falsifying public records in April 2016. Stefanie Rodriguez was the first person who looked into Gabriel's case, when his teacher put in a call about the possibility of Pearl beating Gabriel at home, for his in-school behavior. View Stefanie Rodriguez results including current phone number, address, relatives, background check report, and property record with Whitepages. After they found the file and Dallis left, Merritt said a silent prayer for the boy. Every employment contract between a state or local agency and any public official or public employee is a public record which is not subject to the provisions of the law. Some of Merritts colleagues were so ashamed of the departments reputation that they avoided telling people what they did for a living. In a video shared to the Dillard family's. As days passed, and then weeks, Gabriels situation only seemed to worsen. Other teachers told her that Summerwind was one of the districts nicest schools, but when Garcia looked around at the peeling paint and crumbling stucco, she thought, If this is the best weve got, were really in trouble. LOS ANGELES (CBSLA) A California appeals court has thrown out criminal charges against four social workers in the torture and murder of 8-year-old Palmdale boy Gabriel Fernandez. Social workers Patricia Clement, left, and Stefanie Rodriguez, third from left, and supervisors Kevin Bom, second from right, and Gregory Merritt, fourth from right, who were charged with. In Los Angeles County, a sheriffs deputy is required to file a police report if the alleged victim of domestic abuse is a romantic partner. They have also lived in Springtown, TX and Bridgeport, TX. The family called this cabinet the cubby. Deputy District Attorney Jonathan Hatami claimed that Aguirre hated Gabriel because he thought he may be gay. His skin was almost yellow, like hes been starving or something.. Reid took detailed notes, and Garcia soon received a phone call from Stefanie Rodriguez. ), First published on January 7, 2020 / 5:43 AM. Merritt told me that he gravitated to Family Preservation because it aligned with his highest aspirations for his work. Villar also stated that the defendants should have documented Gabriel Fernandezs injuries and that their actions were incompatible with the proper regard for human life.. I still have nightmares. Cat feces were forced in his mouth and down his throat. But the pressures of the job, she said, pushed her out anywayshe went on extended medical leave and eventually agreed to retire. They didnt understand what they saw. When I first called Starr, in November, she quickly excused herself and got off the phone. 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