Grand jury transcripts unsealed in torture death of 10-year-old California boy perceived to be gay

10-year-old Anthony Avalos siblings' testified during grand jury proceedings that their brother suffered five days of torture under the brutal hands of his mother and her boyfriend in Lancaster, California, who were concerned the boy was gay.

Back in June, Anthony was found unresponsive inside the family home. He died the next day after medical staff were unable to save him. 

It was the mother who first called 911 on June 20th to report that Anthony was hurt. She claimed he had been injured in a fall, according to the L.A. County Sheriff’s Department. But prosecutors say what her son endured was far worse: years of abuse until the very end of his life.

Mother Heather Barron, 29, and her live-in boyfriend, 32-year-old Kareem Leiva are now facing charges of one count of murder and one count of torture in Anthony’s death and one count of child abuse in the alleged beating of the boy’s younger brother. Leiva faces an additional count of assault on a child causing death.

During grand jury testimony, Anthony's siblings described how the couple tortured the boy. A brother revealed he was forced to wrestle Anthony until he hurt him. 

A sister testified that Leiva would make the kids beat each other. 

Video via ABC7 Los Angeles

Some believe Anthony was tortured because of his perceived sexuality. A statement he made about liking boys preceded one of the most vicious attacks on him by Barron and Leiva. 

Although multiple calls reporting Anthony's abuse over the years were made, Los Angeles child welfare workers seem to have failed at their job. That is leading to a new focus on  the Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services' practices.


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