Child Who Died Tortured Was Forced To Fight With His Brother In Front Of His Mother

2024 Author: Steven Freeman | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 08:15

Alarming new details emerge in the case of Anthony Ávalos, the 10-year-old boy who died after suffering torture and abuse at the hands of his mother and stepfather, according to authorities. Her mother, Heather Barron, 29, and her stepfather, Kareen Leiva, 32, are behind bars and face charges of murder, abuse and torture. The testimonies of Anthony's brothers revealed new information about what the boy suffered. His 7-year-old brother testified that he was forced to fight Anthony to the point of injury, sometimes while his mother and Kareem watched the fight.

Her 8-year-old sister said that Leiva made the children hit each other. According to the girl, the two adults punished them by making them kneel on grains of rice, sometimes until they bled.

On June 21, the boy died after being found unconscious at his home in Lancaster, California. His mother called 911 to report that the boy had allegedly accidentally fallen, but according to prosecutors, the boy was abused for years.

The Los Angeles District Attorney's office documented that the boy had received severe blows to the head, had been whipped with a belt and an electric cord, was thrown against furniture, was forced to swallow hot sauce, and made him starve. They also allegedly made him kneel down, forcing his other brothers in the house to keep an eye on him so he wouldn't get up.

According to Anthony's sister, they were also punished by starving them. They locked them in their room without being able to go to the bathroom. If they got their pants dirty, they punished them even more. "Kareem supported their legs, made them lie down and put their faces in their urine," revealed the girl.

Brian Claypool, an attorney representing Anthony's father, who lives in Mexico, told the Los Angeles Times that the Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) had received multiple "red flags" or reports of abuse before the death of the boy. Claypool alleges that DFCS investigated multiple reports of abuse at Anthony's home (about him and his siblings) since February 2013.

For his part, Bobby Cagle, the director of DCFS, told PEOPLE: "We feel comfortable that the social workers did what they had to do."

David Barron, Anthony's uncle and mother's brother, spoke to PEOPLE about the tragedy. According to him, the boy's father tried to help him and be there for him but his mother refused to let him have contact with the boy. His sister also prohibited the uncle from approaching the children. David reported that there was violence and abuse at his sister's house several times, he says.

"There are documents saying that Anthony was not given food and that he was locked in rooms and abused," said David. "I don't know what else they need as evidence. Children tell them what's going on and there are other reports from adults and teachers.”

Uncle regrets that Anthony had a life full of pain because he was very noble. "He was a wonderful boy," she recalls. "Everyone loved him the instant they met him."