A member of the illegal alien MS-13 Gang will be tried next week along with his girlfriend. The pair are accused of torturing and murdering the 10-year-old boy, Anthony Avalos in California’s sanctuary state.
Kareem Ernesto, a 37 year-old illegal alien MS-13 Gang member, from El Salvador, is facing child abuse charges and murder charges for allegedly torturing, killing, and dumping Avalos.
Due to California’s strict sanctuary policies, which protect illegal aliens from deportation and arrest by federal immigration officials in their state, Leiva was allowed into the United States despite being previously arrested for domestic violence in 2010 & 2013.
According to Oxygen, Barron and Leiva allegedly tortured Avalos over two weeks before his death. Barron’s ex-boyfriend allegedly had already abused Avalos at the age of five, before the torture began.
Prosecutors say that Avalos was subject to severe torture, which eventually led to his unconsciousness hours before his death.
According to KTLA, Barron called 911 on June 20, 2018 to report that Avalos had fallen. Authorities say that he suffered from cuts and bruises on his body as well as a traumatic head injury. He died the following day.
Prosecutors claim that Anthony was subject to a series torturous acts by Barron and Leiva over several days. They beat him with a belt and dropped him repeatedly on his head. Barron and Leiva allegedly also starved the boy and engaged in sex acts before him.
Barron had seven children, three of which were fathered and conceived by Leiva. Meanwhile, Leiva had eight children in total. California social services were repeatedly contacted by Leiva and Barron about possible child abuse, but nothing was done.
A $32 million settlement was reached last year with Avalos’ biological father. The remaining family members also sued Los Angeles County officials, alleging that social services failed to intervene in the rescue of Avalos and his siblings.
Barron and Leiva are expected to be testified against Avalos’s relatives.
Jackie Lacey, former Los Angeles County District Attorney (D), had planned to seek death penalty against Leiva & Barron. However, George Gascon (D), the current District Attorney (D), halted the county from seeking the death penalty against the accused killers.
