Mother, boyfriend due in court in 8-year-old’s torture death

A Palmdale mother and her boyfriend were scheduled to be arraigned Tuesday in the torture and beating death of the woman’s 8-year-old son.

The mother, Pearl Fernandez, 29, and her boyfriend, Isauro Aguirre, 32, were arrested last week after the boy was found unconscious with a skull fracture, several broken ribs, cigarette burns and abrasions around his ankles that indicated he may have been tied up, KTLA-TV reported.

The boy, whose name, according by KTLA was Gabriel, died Friday after spending days in the hospital. The injuries suggested the boy was tortured, the Los Angeles County coroner’s office said.

During police interviews, Aguirre admitted causing the injuries to the child, and Fernandez admitted that she was present and did not intervene during the assault, KTLA said.

Aguirre was initially booked on suspicion of attempted murder; he was being held on $1-million bail. Fernandez was booked on suspicion of child abuse; her bail was $100,000.

Since the boy’s death, Fernandez’s bail has been raised to $1 million.

Community members gathered in front of the couple’s apartment complex Monday and called for justice for the boy, KTLA reported.

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