California boy came out as gay before he was allegedly killed by family member
Police have charged Anthony Avalos' mother's boyfriend over 'suspicious' death
A 10-year-old Californian boy who died last week in suspicious circumstances allegedly came out as gay not long before his death.
On June 20th, Heather Barron called 911 to report that her son, Anthony Avalos, had been injured in a fall, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. He was found unresponsive in his Lancaster home and was taken to hospital, where he died the following day.
His body apparently showed signs of malnutrition and physical abuse, leading to his death being classified as suspicious.
Sheriff Jim McDonnell said in a press conference Wednesday that Barron’s boyfriend, Kareem Leiva, “made statements that led detectives to arrest him for the murder of Anthony Avalos.” He is being held on a $2 million bail.
In the month leading up to his death, Anthony had “said he liked boys” according to Brandon Nichols, deputy director of the Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services. The department did not provide any more information.
While McDonnell said that homophobia had “not come up in our investigation as a motivation at this time,” Avalos’ uncle David Barron, who is a brother to Heather Barron and a co-worker of Leiva, told NBC News that Leiva would say he was “uncomfortable just being around” gay men.
Levia was also an active member of the MS-13 gang, who have reportedly killed gay members in the past.
According to the Department of Children and Family Services, Anthony suffered physical, sexual and emotional abuse in the years before his death. Caseworkers followed up on 12 separate complaints, including sexual abuse by a grandparent when Anthony was four.
“In private interviews, Anthony disclosed details consistent with media reports that he was beaten, locked up, and not fed,” Bobby Cagle, the director of the department, wrote in a statement. Anthony stayed with relatives in 2014, but was eventually sent back home. The last reported incident was in April 2016.
Karla Avalos, one of Anthony’s aunts, said she was angry because Anthony was allowed to stay with his parents despite the complaints.
“I’m mad, because there was multiple reports done,” Karla Avalos said. “There were phone calls, and nobody did anything. I don’t know why they thought that was OK for them to go back with their mother. What is wrong with the system?”
The department said eight children, ages 11 months to 12 years, have been removed from the household “pending further investigation” and are now in state custody. It is unknown whether Heather Barron will be charged as complicit in Anthony’s death.
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