10-year-old Anthony Avalos was found at the bottom of a staircase by police after his mum called emergency services saying he had fallen.
But upon arriving at the scene in Lancaster, north of Los Angeles, on June 20th, authorities deemed the young boy’s death “suspicious.”
What really happened to cause Anthony’s death is heartbreaking.
After coming out as gay to his mum, Heather Maxine Barron, and her boyfriend, Kareem Ernesto Leiva, Anthony was beaten, locked up and not fed, the Los Angeles Times reports.
Brandon Nichols, deputy director of the Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services, revealed in an interview Monday that Anthony “said he liked boys,” however, declined to give further details.
“Anthony’s dreams of becoming a police officer or a firefighter will never be fulfilled,” his aunt, Maria Barron said, according to News.com.au. “But rest assured my sweet baby boy that you will always be loved, never forgotten. Anthony, you will always be in our hearts.”
Despite over a dozen referrals of suspected child abuse from 2013 until 2016, Anthony was not saved from the home.
After his death, child welfare officials removed eight other children, between 11 months and 12 years old.
Anthony’s mother and her partner have been arrested and charged with torture and murder, People reports.
