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anthony avalos murder
Photo courtesy of FOXLA

Supervisor Barger Disapproves Of Gascón Decision To Drop Death Penalty In Lancaster Boy’s Murder

Los Angeles County Supervisor Kathryn Barger, who oversees Santa Clarita, released a statement of disapproval after the death penalty of a Lancaster woman and her boyfriend were dismissed in a case where they allegedly tortured their son to death. 

Anthony Avalos, 10, from Lancaster was killed in June of 2018 after being tortured by his mother and her boyfriend, according to officials. 

The option of the death penalty for the two suspects, Heather Maxine Barron and Kareem Ernesto Leiva was dropped Friday by District Attorney George Gascón.  

Deputy District Attorney Jonathan Hatami, who has criticized the new district attorney for a series of directives including one that advises that “a sentence of death is never an appropriate resolution in any case” — opposed the latest decision in the case of Barron and Leiva, according to a statement from FOXLA.  

Barron, 31, and Leiva, 35, could now face a maximum of life in prison without the possibility of parole if convicted as charged of murder and torture, along with the special-circumstance allegation of murder involving the infliction of torture, for Avalos June 2018 death, the Fox article read. 

“This was a horrific crime perpetrated against a young child by those who were meant to love and protect him,” Barger said. Those who are responsible for his torture and murder should be held accountable and punished to the fullest extent of the law. This death shook the community and this decision by the District Attorney has not been supported by the prosecuting attorney on this case.” 

In court papers, prosecutors alleged that Avalos was severely tortured during the last five or six days of his life by Barron and Leiva,  who abused, beat, assaulted and tortured him.

The alleged abuse included whipping the boy with a belt and a looped cord, pouring hot sauce on his face and mouth, holding him by his feet and dropping him on his head repeatedly, according to the court papers.

Deputies and paramedics responded to a 9-1-1 call from Barron about 12:15 p.m. June 20 2018 and found her son unresponsive inside the family’s apartment, according to officials.

Investigators said they were told that the child had suffered injuries from a fall, but investigators quickly classified the death as suspicious.

Avalos died early the next morning. 

Along with the murder charge, Barron and Leiva are facing two counts of child abuse involving two other children in the home. Leiva is also facing an allegation that he personally inflicted great bodily injury on one of the children in circumstances involving domestic violence, according to the FOX article.


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Supervisor Barger Disapproves Of Gascón Decision To Drop Death Penalty In Lancaster Boy’s Murder

6 comments

  1. Anyone who voted GasClown in office needs to remember what this young boy went through during the last days of his short life.May you never forget because GasClown is just warming up.

    • He was backed by the evil George Soros. Another one backed by Soros’ money. Soros should have been in jail years ago. Or was it just another fraud election.

  2. Omg…wbat is wrong with people like that
    They dbould not only should be put to death they shluld be made to succer the way that poor child sucfered. My prayers are witb the survi ing children..may they know they are precious gifts that should never suffer at the hNds of the people those gifts are given. My heart breaks for them.

  3. “Gas Con Artist” needs to be removed from office!!!! AV was the abuse capital of the nation when I taught and was a counselor. Horrific things happened while I worked there for 27 years. We reported. The Dept. of Social Services is so overloaded. Plus, kids won’t report, and the neighbors heard nothing? The article stated they have other children in the home which hopefully were removed immediately. My thought on our government is WE all take part. Quit freakin finger pointing at the other parties!!!! WE ARE ALL RESPONSIBLE!!! The Death penalty needs to be upheld in this case. “Gas Con” needs to grow a pair or leave office since he can’t do his job! Life in prison allows tax payers to pay for them as our prisons fill, and we let felons out on the street to house these killers.

  4. LETS ALL OF US PEOPLE GATHER UP IN MOB GROUPS OF THOUSANDS OF PROPLE LIKE THR BLACK PEOPLE DO IT AND DEMAND DISGRACEFUL GASCON TO BE REMOVED!!! LETS CALL THE ALL THE NEWS THAT RIOTS WILL BREAK OUT IF THEY EVIL PARENTS DO NOT GET WHAT TGEY DESERVE DEATH PENALTY ! LETS PASS THE EORD RIOT LOUT IF DISGRACEFUL GASCON NOT REMOVED IMMEDIATELY!!! THIS IS THE ONLY WAY DEATH PENALTY WILL BE GIVEN TO CRUEL EVIL PARENTS OF ABUSED CHILD! THIS IS THE ONLY WAY TO REMOVE GASCON IMMEDIATELY LETS ALL GATHER TOGETHER RIOT LOUT BURN COURTS BUILDING LIKE THE WAY BLACKS FOMIT TO BE HEARD!!!!

  5. We all people need to pass the word around to the Latino Hispanics Mexican People including White people to take gather in large mobs groups demanding to be heard to remove immediately Disgraceful Gascon Con Artist! He doesn’t care if children being tortured and murdered it’s all politics to him! We must all scream yell shout in rage with signs threatening to burn courts riot loot just
    Like the blm did in order to be heard! Gascon office needs to be burned to the ground with him in it to make a point to be heard! Gascon needs to be tortured same way Anthony Avalos the abused child was tortured before his death! Lets gather all together before these evil parents gets away with murder of TGEIR own child!!!

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