In 2013, Pearl Fernandez and her boyfriend Isauro Aguirre committed a horrific crime by killing Pearl’s son Gabriel Fernandez in their California home. Pearl is currently serving a life sentence without the possibility of parole at the Central California Women’s Facility.
In 2018, Pearl pleaded guilty to first-degree murder and murder by torture, but she was not sentenced to death. The judge strongly condemned her actions as “horrendous, inhumane, and nothing short of evil.”
During the trial, it was revealed that Gabriel’s mother and her boyfriend had subjected him to severe torture and abuse for eight months before his death. The abuse included beatings, forced ingestion of cat litter and feces, and even shooting him with a BB gun, among other unimaginable acts.
Gabriel’s brothers, who also lived with Pearl and their father Arnold Contreras, were also subjected to abuse, although not to the same extent as Gabriel. Deputy District Attorney Jonathan Hatami believed that Pearl and Aguirre targeted Gabriel because they suspected he was gay.
On the day Gabriel was killed, Pearl and Aguirre brutally attacked him for not cleaning up his toys. Aguirre received the death penalty for his involvement in the murder, but the execution has not taken place due to a ban on the death penalty in California.
Where Is Pearl Fernandez Now?
Pearl is currently serving a life sentence without the possibility of parole at the Central California Women’s Facility. In 2018, she admitted her guilt and pleaded guilty to first-degree murder and murder by torture. Due to a plea deal, she was not sentenced to death. However, her request for a new sentence was denied by a judge in 2021.
Isauro Aguirre and Pearl Fernandez have entered the courtroom:
Yvette Garcia, who says she was a prisoner at the same place as Pearl, says that when Pearl first arrived at the jail, she was beaten by another prisoner. For the attack, the lid of a tuna can was used to cut her up, and other prisoners threw hot water on her.
Angel Annie Medina, who was thought to have made the attack, was killed in a shooting after she got out of jail. Pearl felt terrible about killing Gabriel. Before she was sentenced, she said in court that she was sorry for what she did and wished she had made better decisions.
Is Pearl Fernandez Still Alive?
Pearl Fernandez is still living; that’s true. It’s tough to think how a mother could kill her 8-year-old son. Gabriel Fernandez was abused and tortured for months before he died, and even though social services and the police knew about it, they did nothing to help him.
This tragedy shows that people who work with children, like teachers and healthcare workers, need better training to spot signs of child abuse and neglect and report them quickly.
Isauro Aguirre was punished for what he did and was put to death for his part in Gabriel’s death. This is an excellent way to remember how restorative justice is for victims, their families, and society.
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FAQs
What exactly happened to Gabriel Fernandez?
Gabriel Fernandez was tragically beaten to death by his mother and her boyfriend because he didn’t tidy up his toys. When help arrived, they found him naked and severely injured on the ground. The boyfriend mentioned that they believed Gabriel was gay. Paramedics hurriedly took him to the hospital, where doctors declared him brain dead.
What damages did Gabriel Fernandez have?
Gabriel Fernandez suffered from severe injuries as a result of the abuse he endured. Some of the damages he had included fractures, bruises, burns, and other physical wounds.
