The mother of Anthony Avalos was arrested today and charged with murdering the 10-year-old boy who came out as gay weeks before his violent death.
Heather Barron, 28, appeared in court today, but her arraignment has been postponed to Monday. She is being charged with murder, child abuse resulting in death and torture, says a spokesman with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.
Earlier this week, Barron’s boyfriend Kareem Leiva, 32, was arrested and charged with murder, torture and assault on a child causing death, according the D.A.’s office. Leiva is being medically treated for a laceration to the neck, and will be arraigned when he is medically cleared.
If convicted on all charges, Barron faces 22 years to life in prison; Leiva faces 32 years to life.
Weeks after telling people around him he “liked boys,” the 10-year-old boy was found unresponsive in his home covered in cigarette burns with severe head trauma. He died June 21.
According to Department of Children and Family Services Director Bobby Cagle, Anthony showed signs of being severely beaten and malnourished.
On Tuesday, The L.A. County Board of Supervisors called for a comprehensive review of Anthony’s case history.
Clearly, law enforcement and child welfare services failed Anthony Avalos.
h/t: http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-anthony-avalos-arrest-20180629-story.html
For more on this case: https://instinctmagazine.com/post/10-year-old-boy-anthony-avalos-came-out-weeks-brutal-torture-and-death
https://instinctmagazine.com/post/kareem-leiva-arrested-charged-murder-anthony-avalos