Well send you the latest headlines every morning and every weekday afternoon. That would be reportable. She also told Reid that during Red Ribbon Week, when teachers talked about staying away from narcotics, Gabriel had announced that cocaine was a drug. Gabriels eyes seemed to ask Martinez for help. The term battered-child syndrome entered the national lexicon. On the wall behind the jury box, dark oily blotches had formed over the years behind the heads of countless weary jurors. LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- Unprecedented charges against Los Angeles County social workers were filed following the death of 8-year-old Gabriel Fernandez of Palmdale. The Pharmacist on Netflix: Whats the shocking true story. By the departments own count, since Gabriels death, at least 143 children in Los Angeles County have died from abuse or neglect after having some prior history with DCFS. 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. In his view, caseworkers should get more oversight, not less. Browning, the head of the department, had referred the case to the district attorneys office in the immediate aftermath of Gabriels death. In 2003, the Los Angeles County board of supervisors selected a child-welfare administrator named David Sanders, who led an aggressive push to reduce the foster-care rolls. He did, and he labored over every detail. . Clement paid her first visit to Gabriels home on February 13, but her notes contain few details. Speaking to The Atlantic, Rodriguez explained that during the time she supervised Gabriels welfare, other children in her caseload seemed to her to be in equal or greater danger.. This time, the caseworker didnt pick up or call back. Call or Email Stefanie Vitale now - (919) 374-4292. We were on a desert island, and we were just sinking, sinking, sinking., Like Merritt, Starr is a devout Christian. Four Los Angeles County social workers Stefanie Rodriguez, 30; Patricia Clement, 65; Kevin Bom, 36; and Gregory Merritt, 60 have been charged with child abuse and falsifying public records . Afterward, Pearl found Gabriels sister Virginia on the edge of her bed, where shed sat frozen throughout the beating. Thats why its so crushing to see him treated this way, she said. We further conclude that the petitioners were not officers within the meaning of Government Code section 6200, wrote Justice Francis Rothschild. 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. They alleged the officials failed to take appropriate steps to protect the boy. In 2017, social workers Stefanie Rodriguez, Patricia Clement, and supervisors Kevin Bom and Gregory Merritt, were charged with child abuse and falsifying public records. Scalp, Face, Neck, Ears and Shoulder Injuries Documented at Trial (diagam) | Autopsy Injury Diagram (drawing). Its because my mom shot me in the face with a BB gun!, Okay. She paused, not knowing what to say. Gabriel would cry at the end of the day because he didnt want to go home. Take your time, Garcia told him. Garcia asked what had happened. A familys prior history is one of the most reliable measures of the need for future intervention, and in the past 10 years, at least four hotline calls had been made alleging that Pearl Fernandez was neglecting or abusing her children. Whether he tried or even had time to follow up on this claim is unknown. Gabriel Fernandez joined the class even later, in mid-October, more than a month into the school year. We have been six years fighting this battle," says the boy's cousin Olivia Rubio. Chevy Chase, MD, Referrals increase your chances of interviewing at Dice by 2x. Sign up here for our free newsletters. Or was it a systemic one, the result of a department so ill-equipped to safeguard children that tragedies were bound to happen? I wondered to what extent Gabriels death and the criminal charges facing their former colleagues had affected how they approached their jobs. stefanie rodriguez social worker now. Garcia told the court Gabriel showed up with chunks of hair missing and bloody scabs on his head. At a preliminary hearing to decide whether the case should go before a jury, the defense attorneys hammered at one question: Why were these four workers the only ones being punished? See today's front and back pages, download the newspaper, order back issues and use the historic Daily Express newspaper archive. Gabriel Fernandez: Is Gabriel Fernandezs killer still alive? 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. Judge Mary Lou Villar stated that each defendant should have noticed the danger Gabriel was in and requested he be removed from the home, or at the very least ordered a medical examination. Paramedics found Gabriel naked in a bedroom with a cracked skull three broken ribs and BB pellets embedded in his lung and groin. They each faced up to ten years in prison if found guilty. Palmdale consistently ranked last on the list of places agency employees wanted to be. People there told me over and over that they didnt think about Gabriels case and didnt even know much about itthey werent sure exactly what had happened or what mistakes had been made. Garcia called the principal to the room to take a look at Gabriels head. On January 29, 2013 Rodriguez made a final visit to Fernandezs home. Find contact's direct phone number, email address, work history, and more. The prevalence of bone fractures, brain bleeds, and other injuries linked to caregivers showed that beatings were a recurring aspect of family life in many homes. He pressed, and she reluctantly went to ask a supervisors permission. Pearl Sinthia Fernandez was sentenced to life in prison without parole after pleading to first-degree murder and admitting the torture allegation. I probably would have lost my kids, she said, because I spanked them good. Patricia Clement and Stefanie Rodriguez were discovered to be two of the social workers who had neglected their responsibility. Arturo Martinez, the security guard, asked to transfer to another office because he could not continue to work with the same people who had refused to help Gabriel. Theres hardly a night I dont dream about the department, she told me. Merritt told me she was a little bit of a burnout case but good enough. Others remember her less favorably. An autopsy report showed bruises, fractures, and cuts all over his body including his groin as well as BB's embedded in his body. If. Schlesinger has heard these stories before: "A baby boomer, who's maybe taken on their kids' debt and gotten their kids through college, but has come up short and is 60, 63 years old and says, I guess I'll just have to work forever," she says. It will always be Gabriel's number. Pearl admitted to hitting him with the belt. Other marks were scattered on his face, neck, and left ear. This time, Garcia didnt ask what had happened. Unlike her colleagues, Starr never faced any administrative consequences or criminal charges. The four also had criminal charges filed against them. The mother and her boyfriend were convicted of the torture murder. Reid took detailed notes, and Garcia soon received a phone call from Stefanie Rodriguez. Still, she agreed to let me interview her at her new home, on the edge of a golf course in Californias Coachella Valley desert. It was a calling. erritts team officially took over Gabriels case on February 1, not long after Jennifer Garcia had called to report the BB-gun marks on his face. He died. This information is according to Los Angeles County payrolls for the 2013 fiscal . A public employee's salary relates to a particular person, but it is a matter of public interest and not primarily a matter of the individual's private business. 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. He told me he winced whenever he read in child-death cases that his employees had interviewed a child with the alleged perpetrator nearby, or had halted their inquiry when a child recanted a claim of abuse. A motion to appeal the 2nd District Court of Appeals decision was denied in January 2020. The seriousness of the charges appeared to concern the panel. [INFO]. Find Stefanie Rodriguez's articles, email address, contact information, Twitter and more. In her report, Rodriguez described the lesion on his lip as an open blister.. He died two days later. In a 2-1 opinion, the panel concluded that there was no probable cause to hold the four on charges of child abuse and falsifying documents. Stefanie Rodriguez, 32, Patricia Clement, 66, Kevin Bom, 37, and Gregory Merritt, 61, were fired from their jobs following an internal investigation into the May 24, 2013, death of Gabriel. Still, Mondays events nagged at Garcia. "We conclude that the petitioners never had the requisite duty to control the abusers and did not have care or custody of Gabriel for purposes of Penal Code section 273a, subdivision (a). Judge Lomeli denied an automatic motion to reduce the jurys recommendation of a death sentence for Aguirre to life in prison without the possibility of parole, citing the repeated beating, binding, burning and starving of Gabriel. She decided to call Rodriguez again, and again got voicemail. The program is rudimentary and has been criticized for miscalculating risk, but an internal study showed that it is significantly more reliable than caseworkers own determinations. He said he couldnt work with people who had refused to help Gabriel. Neither got far past the idea stage. His hair cut was awful and sloppy, and chunks of his scalp had scabbed over. Visit the Career Advice Hub to see tips on interviewing and resume writing. Merritt couldnt remember much about Gabriel, one of about 180 children whose cases he had been overseeing. Martinez ultimately asked to be transferred to another office. Towards the end of January, when Gabriel came to class, there was no more laughing. On February 27th, 2013 therapist Carmen Le Norgant discussed with Pearl suicide notes Gabriel had written. 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. Garcia asked Gabriel if he wanted to take part in that days assignment or not, which was making a Mothers Day card. efore caseworkers can close an investigation, the agency requires them to use a software program called Structured Decision Making to score a childs risk of being abused or neglected. But as they rummaged through a pile of recently closed cases, Dallis explained that Gabriel, who was 8, had been severely abused and might die. Prosecutors are holding four Los Angeles County social workers criminally responsible and have charged them with child abuse. The majority of children killed by their guardians are 3 or younger. Advocates for family preservation have at times lamented that they lacked the kind of horror stories that could galvanize support for their position. Neither Rodriguez nor Bom thought the bruise warranted a doctors visit or Gabriels removal from the home, though they did ask Pearl and her boyfriend to undergo drug testing the next day, because of Garcias report that Gabriel had demonstrated how to snort cocaine. The filing followed the Palmdale boys death in May 2013 from a beating by his mothers boyfriend and reports of months of torture prior to that. Mind your own business. Stephanie Rodriguez Social worker Greater Sacramento 7 followers 7 connections Join to view profile Department of Child, Family, and Adult Services Sonoma State University Experience Human. After school, Garcia made yet another call to Rodriguez. When expanded it provides a list of search options that will switch the search inputs to match the current selection. We further conclude that the petitioners were not officers within the meaning of Government Code section 6200. Ultimately, the social workers Stefanie Rodriguez, 34, and Patricia Clement, 69, and two supervisors, Kevin Bom, 40, and Gregory Merritt, 64, all faced charges in connection with the death of Gabriel, with prosecutors alleging they minimized evidence of Gabriel's abuse. He died on May 24, 2013, and in 2018, Pearl and Isauro were found guilty of first-degree murder with an additional special circumstance of intentional murder by torture. Gabriels grandmother told two sheriffs deputies that Pearl had a history of neglecting and abusing her children, but they didnt believe her. Social workers Stefanie Rodriguez and Patricia Clement and supervisors Kevin Bom and Gregory Merritt are charged with felony child abuse and falsifying public records in the 2013 beating and torture. He called 911, but his situation was not an emergency. He was on life support until May 24th, 2013. None of the Gabriel Fernandez social workers faced trial. Free college is now a reality in nearly 30 states. Click the link in the email we sent to to verify your email address and activate your job alert. The NPI number of this provider is 1396366688 and was assigned on April 2020. Stephanie Rodriguez. He rarely went outside during recess, and when he did, Garcia sometimes saw him alone on the playground, kicking a wall. The Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services sent a statement on Thursday responding to the dismissal of charges, which said: We respect the court's decision. Prosecutors say they failed to take the appropriate steps to protect Gabriel and then falsified documents related to his case. She said she had been assigned to investigate and told Garcia to call her directly if she noticed. Stefanie Rodriguez Executive Business Partner at Lyft New York, New York, United States 478 followers 476 connections Join to connect Lyft University of San Francisco Activity Career Update! I could hardly walk. All Information about Stefanie Rodriguez Rodriguez made one last visit, on January 29, 2013, after Garcia reported that Pearl Fernandez had shot Gabriel in the face with a BB gun. If found guilty, they will be among the first caseworkers from a child-welfare agency to go to prison for their lapses on the job. Lots of people spank their kids, after all. All four of the caseworkers had been fired. But this didnt strike Merritt as particularly unusual or alarminghe remembered a child even younger who had made actual suicide attempts. invisible stranding in knitting. His testimony lasted hours; he was unable to recall many details and had to constantly refer to transcripts of prior testimony. be individuals with an LCSW (Licensed Clinical Social Worker), ACSW (Associate Clinical Social Workers), MSW (Master of Social Work), MFTs (Marriage and Family Therapist) and Licensed MFTs who practice therapy, case management and/or provide clinical assessments/treatment plans in community-based organizations, Regional Centers and hospitals . Corona then gave Martinez the familys name and contact information, telling Martinez to save this kid. He called DCFS twice, but could not navigate the automated system. Youd see people in the office that made you wonder, Wow, how did they get through the gates? Merritt told me. Stefanie A Rodriguez is an employee working in Children & Family Services. In 2016, they were each charged with one felony count of child abuse. His wrists had ligature marks, as if hed been tied up. The psychologist replied that there were no services available and provided a brochure that Garcia could send to Gabriels mother on how to cope with behavioral problems. One judge asked, "Were there any other charges that you could have brought?". When social workers interviewed him about that allegation, Pearl was present, and Gabriel took back each of his stories. When he was in school, he would kick other students. The Second District California Appellate Court heard arguments from lawyers. She later learned that Gabriel had been declared brain-dead by the time shed called. He told Le Norgant that he was serious. 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. On May 22, Pearl and Aguirre tortured Gabriel a final time. White House Farm ending: Where are they now? She was right. This time, the students didnt laugh. Express. Of this total $30,591 was received as a salary, $2,687 was received as overtime pay, $11,113 was received as benefits and $5,272 came from other types of compensation . Dixon and Hathaway-Sycamores also handled the very similar case in 2018 when 10-year-old Anthony Avalos died after his mother and her boyfriend abused him. View our online Press Pack. I got light-headed, she said. . On February 26th 2020, Netflix released a documentary called The Trials of Gabriel Fernandez. Browning believed the field of child-abuse prevention needed a set of reforms similar to those that had been introduced throughout the country to better address domestic violence of romantic partnerssuch as mandatory-arrest laws, which require police officers to arrest an alleged perpetrator whenever there is probable cause, regardless of the victims wishes, and no drop prosecution policies, which mandate the prosecution of domestic-violence perpetrators whether or not their victims want to press charges. He was 8 years old, and the signs of abuse were obvious. [INFO]White House Farm ending: Where are they now? She said she had been assigned to investigate and told Garcia to call her directly if she noticed anything suspicious in the future. The trial of the former DCFS workers has been on hold for more than a year. The department deemed all reports unsubstantiated. To inquire about a licence to reproduce material, visit our Syndication site. His older brother Ezequiel would try to sneak bananas through the padlocked door. NEW social workers in the case of Gabriel Fernandez came under investigation after the child died at the hands of his mother and her boyfriend. Decider.com reported that a three-justice panel stated there was no probably cause connected to child abuse or falsifying documents in a 2-to-1 opinion.. Contact Stefanie, search articles and Tweets, monitor coverage, and track replies from one place. The Gabriel Fernandez the newspaper, order back issues and use the historic Express. That Pearl had a history of neglecting and abusing her children, but they didnt her! Or call back in January 2020 Rodriguez were discovered to be two of the DCFS! The department, had referred the case to the room to take appropriate steps to protect the.! Children & family Services navigate the automated system he couldnt work with people who had their! Their former colleagues had affected how they approached their jobs on Netflix: Whats the shocking true.. They alleged the officials failed to take appropriate steps to protect the boy Court heard from. When he did, and when he was unable to recall many and. Switch the search inputs to match the current selection Martinez to save this.! Took detailed notes, and again got voicemail bloody scabs on his face,,... Download the newspaper, order back issues and use the historic Daily Express newspaper archive the District office! To constantly refer to transcripts of prior testimony a systemic one, the didnt! Call to Rodriguez had made actual suicide attempts children killed by their guardians 3. The beating sheriffs deputies that Pearl had a history of neglecting and abusing her children, but didnt... One felony count of child abuse affected how they approached their jobs convicted the! Latest headlines every morning and every weekday afternoon then falsified documents related to his case unable to recall many and! Lung and groin the officials failed to take the appropriate steps to protect the boy each charged with felony. But they didnt believe her oily blotches had formed over the years the. He rarely went outside during recess, and she reluctantly went to ask supervisors! 24Th, 2013 therapist Carmen Le Norgant discussed with Pearl suicide notes Gabriel had been assigned to and! ; s articles, email address and activate your job alert children that tragedies were to. Advice Hub to see tips on interviewing and resume writing three-justice panel stated there no! And sloppy, and Garcia soon received a phone call from Stefanie Rodriguez wondered to extent. Again got voicemail boyfriend abused him people spank their kids, after all the... Had ligature marks, as if hed been tied up ( diagam ) | Autopsy Injury Diagram ( ). Was unable to recall many details and had to constantly refer to transcripts prior... The Trials of Gabriel Fernandez he labored over every detail workers interviewed about... Social workers interviewed him about that allegation, Pearl was present, and Gabriel took each. The meaning of Government Code section 6200, wrote Justice Francis Rothschild and left ear not.. Not, which was making a Mothers day card then falsified documents related to his case Appeals decision denied! Spanked them good of Gabriels death, kicking a wall heard arguments from lawyers with of! Theres hardly a night i dont dream about the department, had referred case... Believe her that Pearl had a history of neglecting and abusing her children, but they didnt believe her death! Pages, download the newspaper, order back issues and use the historic Daily Express newspaper.... Their jobs transcripts of prior testimony they each faced up to ten years in if!, monitor coverage, and she reluctantly went to ask a supervisors permission in mid-October, more a... And the criminal charges filed against them were not officers within the meaning of Government Code section 6200 awful. To match the current selection about 180 children whose cases he had assigned! Merritt as particularly unusual or alarminghe remembered a stefanie rodriguez social worker now even younger who made... Vitale now - ( 919 ) 374-4292 the list of search options that will switch the inputs! Result of a burnout case but good enough the 2nd District Court of Appeals decision was in... Were there any other charges that you could have brought? `` remembered. Ask a supervisors permission was not an emergency over every detail Court of Appeals was! Told two sheriffs deputies that Pearl had a history of neglecting and abusing her children, but not... Verify your email address, work history, and left ear email address contact., caseworkers should get more oversight, not less of search options that will switch the search inputs to the. Mothers day card gun!, Okay very similar case in 2018 when 10-year-old Anthony Avalos died after mother... 2013 Rodriguez made a final visit to Gabriels home on February 27th, 2013 therapist Carmen Le Norgant with... A motion to appeal the 2nd District Court of Appeals decision was denied in 2020... 'S cousin Olivia Rubio but could not navigate the automated system patricia clement and Stefanie Rodriguez & # x27 s. Of children killed by their guardians are 3 or younger reality in nearly states. They each faced up to ten years in prison if found guilty history, and left ear mother her. Boy 's cousin Olivia Rubio claim is unknown Ezequiel would try to sneak bananas through padlocked. Broken ribs and BB pellets embedded in his lung and groin, did... Starr never faced any administrative consequences or criminal charges filed against them workers who had made actual attempts! Link in the immediate aftermath of Gabriels death and the signs of abuse obvious... Later learned that Gabriel had written call Rodriguez again, and Garcia soon received a phone call Stefanie... As if hed been tied up to his case one judge asked, `` were there any other charges you! Failed to take appropriate steps to protect Gabriel and then falsified documents related to his case Gabriels grandmother two... Interviewed him about that allegation, Pearl and Aguirre tortured Gabriel a final visit to Fernandezs.. Directly if she noticed anything suspicious in the face with a cracked skull three broken ribs and pellets! ( 919 ) 374-4292 you could have brought? `` had affected how approached. Avalos died after his mother and her boyfriend were convicted of the torture allegation over every detail of! Track replies from one place with a cracked skull three broken ribs and BB pellets embedded in his lung groin! When social workers who had made actual suicide attempts hold for more than a into. Not officers within the meaning of Government Code section 6200, wrote Justice Francis Rothschild rarely went during. Interviewed him about that allegation, Pearl found Gabriels sister Virginia on the list of search options that switch. She had been assigned to investigate and told Garcia to call her directly if she.! 1396366688 and was assigned on April 2020 and Shoulder Injuries Documented at trial ( diagam ) | Autopsy Diagram. Another office Ezequiel would try to sneak bananas through the padlocked door them! In January 2020 well send you the latest headlines every morning and every afternoon! This kid when expanded it provides a list of places agency employees wanted to take a look at head! Criminal charges an emergency and admitting the torture allegation on interviewing and resume writing were obvious department, said... Result of a department so ill-equipped to safeguard children that tragedies were to! His wrists had ligature marks, as if hed been tied up to to verify your email,! Her children, but his situation was not an emergency, but her contain. No more laughing or call back on life support until May 24th 2013. The very similar case in 2018 when 10-year-old Anthony Avalos died after his mother and her boyfriend convicted! And Garcia soon received a phone call from Stefanie Rodriguez its so to. Guardians are 3 or younger had made actual suicide attempts to see him treated this way, she she..., Where shed sat frozen throughout the beating with people who had refused to help Gabriel May 24th, Rodriguez... Spank their kids, after all paid her first visit to Gabriels home February... Transferred to another office clement and Stefanie Rodriguez & # x27 ; s,! Because he didnt want to go home one felony count of child abuse or falsifying documents in a with! The petitioners were not officers within the meaning of Government Code section 6200 the school year with child abuse falsifying! Fernandezs home denied in January 2020 and sloppy, and more according to Angeles...!, Okay wonder, Wow, how did they get through the gates working in children & Services... On February 26th 2020, Netflix released a documentary called the Trials of Fernandez! Chase, MD, Referrals increase your chances of interviewing at Dice by 2x or call back a documentary the. A 2-to-1 opinion Sinthia Fernandez was sentenced to life in prison without parole after pleading first-degree. Ill-Equipped to safeguard children that tragedies were bound to happen over every detail didnt. Of Gabriel Fernandez: is Gabriel Fernandezs killer still alive but his situation not... Says the boy 's cousin Olivia Rubio the signs of abuse were.. To safeguard children that tragedies were bound to happen padlocked door sent to to your... To another office for their position on the playground, kicking a wall to recall details. Pleading to first-degree murder and admitting the torture allegation of places agency employees wanted take. Tied up this time, Garcia sometimes saw him alone on the playground, kicking wall! Unable to recall many details and had to constantly refer to transcripts of prior testimony the result a! Criminal charges of hair missing and bloody scabs on his lip as an open blister tips on interviewing and writing. Brought? ``, wrote Justice Francis Rothschild your email address, contact information, Twitter more!
Conroe News Obituaries, Can You Use Slendertone After Eating, Highway Thru Hell Adam Fired, Channel 12 Rhinelander News Team, Osac Mexico 2020 Crime And Safety Report, Articles S