A Southern California mother and her boyfriend were sentenced to life in prison without chance of parole in the torture killing of her 10-year-old son.
Heather Maxine Barron, 33, and Kareem Ernesto Leiva, 37, were convicted in March of murdering Anthony Avalos in 2018 but were sentenced in Los Angeles on Tuesday.
DailyMail.com previously reported that Avalos, 10, had come out as gay to his family members who later starved and beat him for almost a full week before his death.
Inside of their Mojave Desert home, Barron reportedly forced her other children to take part in the abuse which included slamming the boy onto the floor, whipping him with a belt, pouring hot sauce in his mouth, and forbidding him to use the bathroom.
Former LA County District Attorney Jackie Lacey initially sought the death penalty but current District Attorney George Gascón’s office decided against it.
‘These two are monsters, and monsters belong in cages. Please, do not give them the opportunity to hurt somebody else,’ a speaker said during the victim impact portion of the hearing.
Anthony Avalos, 10, was tortured and killed by his mother and her boyfriend in 2018
Heather Maxine Barron, 33, and Kareem Ernesto Leiva, 37, were convicted in March of murdering Anthony Avalos in 2018 but were sentenced in Los Angeles on Tuesday
Prosecutors argued throughout the trial that the 10-year-old boy was tortured for at least five days before being found unresponsive on June 20, 2018.
He later died at the hospital with the coroner reporting his cause of death as blunt force trauma to the head.
‘At one point Anthony could not walk, was unconscious lying on his bedroom floor for hours, was not provided medical attention, and could not eat on his own,’ Los Angeles County Deputy District Attorney Jonathan Hatami wrote in 2018.
Hatami’s said in 2018 that Avalos’ heart had stopped and he had suffered a traumatic brain injury and a brain bleed.
The young boy also had reddened eyes and numerous bruises, cuts and scrapes on his forehead, nose, mouth, cheek, neck, legs, shoulder, hips, back, buttocks, stomach, ankle, legs and foot.
Barron had tried to tell officials that Avalos had fallen down the stairs.
County child welfare officials had received a dozen referrals of suspected child abuse about the boy from 2013 until 2016. Anthony had been removed from his home for several months when some of the reports of abuse were substantiated.
During the sentencing hearing Tuesday, the judge explained his mindset on the life sentences.
‘Anthony was a helpless child who was dependent (on the defendants) … for his basic physical needs and emotional support. Instead, Anthony was tortured and killed,’ Ohta said.
Prosecutors argued throughout the trial that the 10-year-old boy was tortured for at least five days before being found unresponsive on June 20, 2018
‘At one point Anthony could not walk, was unconscious lying on his bedroom floor for hours, was not provided medical attention, and could not eat on his own,’ one official said in 2018
Barron had tried to tell officials that Avalos had fallen down stairs
‘Anthony was a helpless child who was dependent (on the defendants) … for his basic physical needs and emotional support. Instead Anthony was tortured and killed,’ Judge Sam Ohta said
In court, Anthony’s loved ones gave statements for over an hour, each fighting back tears as they begged Judge Sam Ohta to give ‘the maximum sentencing allowed.’
‘Because of her actions, I can no longer claim her as my family. In my mind, she is dead to me,’ said Dana B., a cousin of Anthony.
‘You tortured your kids, you failed your kids. And because of you, our family is broken,’ Maria Barron, Heather’s sister, said.
‘I miss my cousin Anthony,’ said one young boy who read a written statement.
‘Heather is an evil monster,’ the child said. ‘She deserves to spend the rest of her life in prison. I don’t forgive Heather for taking my cousin’s life. I hope she gets beat up in jail because I just wanted to meet Anthony.’
Several speakers called Barron a ‘monster,’ including Maria who said she was disgusted at how her sister could commit unspeakable acts against a child.
‘Heather, you took his dreams and hopes away. You were supposed to be his protector,’ Maria said as she faced her sister.
Last month, family members who were present for the verdict’s reading criticized DA Gascón for not pursuing the death penalty, which they were pushing for.
Gascón in 2021 called the death penalty ‘never an appropriate resolution in any case’ and they were given the strictest punishment possible for first-degree murder and torture.
In court, Anthony’s loved ones gave statements for over an hour, each fighting back tears as they begged Judge Sam Ohta to give ‘the maximum sentencing allowed’
‘I miss my cousin Anthony,’ said one young boy who read a written statement
Former LA County District Attorney Jackie Lacey (left) initially sought the death penalty but current District Attorney George Gascón (right) decided against it
‘You tortured your kids, you failed your kids. And because of you, our family is broken,’ Maria Barron, Heather’s sister, said. Pictured: Maria with Avalos
After the boy’s death, authorities removed the eight other children from the home.
Anthony’s half-sister, Destiny, broke down in tears Tuesday when asked to speak at the sentencing hearing.
‘Kareem, you came into our life and ruined everything,’ she wrote.
Some of her words had to be read aloud by Hatami after she was overcome with emotion.
‘He did not protect us and took part in the torture. To me, you’re both monsters,’ Destiny wrote.
