Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. In Los Angeles County, a sheriffs deputy is required to file a police report if the alleged victim of domestic abuse is a romantic partner. Dice is the leading career destination for tech experts at every stage of their careers. The majority of children killed by their guardians are 3 or younger. Some of his teeth had been knocked out. The two 29-year-old women locked eyes in uneasy silence. Actress. Stephanie joined the Alliance in 2015. Sadly, Gabriel Fernandez was subjected to months of brutal torture at the hands of his mother Pearl and her boyfriend, Isauro Aguirre. She was a 27-year-old newcomer with a bachelors degree in psychology and no academic credentials in social work. Their case marks one of the few times social worked have been charged in a child abuse case in the US. Lomeli called the pair nothing short of evil and worse than animalistic because even animals know how to take care of their young.. White House Farm killer played badminton and drew models in prison. Reid took detailed notes, and Garcia soon received a phone call from Stefanie Rodriguez. This one guy was talking to himself all the time. Merritt assumed he was mentally ill. Garcia called the principal to have him look at Gabriels head. After school, Garcia called the countys child-abuse hotline. That would be reportable. She also told Reid that during Red Ribbon Week, when teachers talked about staying away from narcotics, Gabriel had announced that cocaine was a drug. In 2016, Stefanie Rodriguez and Patricia Clement, two former LA County social workers, as well as two supervisors, Kevin Bom and Gregory Merritt, were charged with one felony count each of child abuse and falsifying public records. Caseworkers were told to focus on services versus surveillance and to label a parent as being in need of services/support rather than as a perpetrator. The caseworkers and their supervisors would be the decision makers on any interventionno judge would second-guess them, and no lawyers would be appointed to argue for the best interests of the children. They recommended the death penalty. Learn more about Muck Rack . Various defense attorneys argued that the abuse and torture escalated months after a file on the boy had been closed and that there was insufficient evidence to take him away from his mother. When Garcia first questioned Gabriel about his injuries, he lied to her and told her he fell. All four were fired from the Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services after an internal investigation into the boy's May 24, 2013 death. Martinez told Pearl to quiet down. erritts team officially took over Gabriels case on February 1, not long after Jennifer Garcia had called to report the BB-gun marks on his face. [INFO]. RELATED: Uncle breaks silence on Gabriel Fernandez 7 years after his death. They reportedly moved to Des Moines soon after their wedding. Corona then gave Martinez the familys name and contact information, telling Martinez to save this kid. He called DCFS twice, but could not navigate the automated system. At the Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services, administrators had a well-worn routine they followed anytime a child died, or came close to dying, at the hands of a parent or guardiansomething that typically happened at least a couple of times a month. But as they rummaged through a pile of recently closed cases, Dallis explained that Gabriel, who was 8, had been severely abused and might die. Username. The Second District California Appellate Court heard arguments from lawyers representing Kevin Bom, Stefanie Rodriguez, Gregory Merritt and Patricia Clement. Patricia Clement and Stefanie Rodriguez were discovered to be two of the social workers who had neglected their responsibility. Pearl admitted to hitting him with the belt. The prevalence of bone fractures, brain bleeds, and other injuries linked to caregivers showed that beatings were a recurring aspect of family life in many homes. Decider.com reported that a three-justice panel stated there was no probably cause connected to child abuse or falsifying documents in a 2-to-1 opinion.. Stefanie has been found in 13 states including Florida, Georgia, New York, New Jersey, Arizona. I got light-headed, she said. Then he turned back to his computerbecause, he says, life goes on, and I had work to do. Hed concluded long ago that some of the children who depended on the department would inevitably be injured, if not killed. Los Angeles County social workers Stefanie Rodriguez, 35, Patricia Clement, 69, and supervisors Kevin Bom, 41, and Gregory Merritt, 64, were each been charged with one felony count of child. Aguirre pleaded not guilty, however, the jury found him guilty and recommended he be sentenced to death. Gabriel asked his teacher, Jennifer Garcia, if it was normal for moms to hit their kids. The law requires all reports to go through the hotline, the lawyer noted. Her 8-year-old son Gabriel fell and hit his head on a dresser, and now he wasn't breathing. He lied because whenever a social worker would visit his punishments would increase. Once again, Rodriguez and Bom decided not to remove him or order a medical exam. She then called Pearl Fernandez to pick Gabriel up. The documentary looks into the failures of the Los Angeles County DCFS system. Or was it a systemic one, the result of a department so ill-equipped to safeguard children that tragedies were bound to happen? Well, yeah, she told him, recalling that she herself had been spanked as a child. All rights reserved. I wanted to go there and hold his hand and say, Youre going to be okay. As a general rule, caseworkers worry most about children who arent seen by people outside the home. If they were to be found guilty, they faced up to 10 years in prison each. She said she had been assigned to investigate and told Garcia to call her directly if she noticed. As Children'S Social Worker at Los Angeles County, STEFANIE A RODRIGUEZ made $49,663 in total compensation. We further conclude that the petitioners were not officers within the meaning of Government Code section 6200, wrote Justice Francis Rothschild. He died in the hospital days after the brutal attack. On file we have 129 email addresses and 83 phone numbers associated with Stefanie in area codes such as 813, 347, 718, 281, 256, and 32 other area codes. Over the years, the Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services has taken significant steps to mitigate risk and improve our capacity countywide in order to best serve vulnerable children and families and as a department we remain committed to ensuring that reform continues. After the death of Gabriel Fernandez, LAC DCFS terminated four social workers for their failure to help him. Anchor | Reporter . Find Stefanie Rodriguez's articles, email address, contact information, Twitter and more. Merritts attorney even accused Gabriels teacher, Jennifer Garcia, of not doing enough to protect him, because she had followed Rodriguezs instructions to call her directly when she had concerns. vs. LA County, Scalp, Face, Neck, Ears and Shoulder Injuries Documented at Trial (diagam). Pearl sat quickly, fidgeting and rubbing her nose. He rarely went outside during recess, and when he did, Garcia sometimes saw him alone on the playground, kicking a wall. He said he wouldnt hesitate to remove a child if he knew there to be true danger, but he also acknowledged that he recognized such situations less often than others did. His mom? they asked, their faces filled with the deepest horror shed ever seen in children so young. The social worker Garcia contacted, Stefanie Rodriguez, 31, another social worker, Patricia Clement, 66, and two of their supervisors, Kevin Bom, 37, and Gregory Merritt, 61, are now facing charges of one felony count each of child abuse and falsifying records in relation to this case. 679215 Registered office: 1 London Bridge Street, London, SE1 9GF. We were on a desert island, and we were just sinking, sinking, sinking., Like Merritt, Starr is a devout Christian. The family called this cabinet the cubby. Deputy District Attorney Jonathan Hatami claimed that Aguirre hated Gabriel because he thought he may be gay. Jennifer Garcia began calling social workers in 2012. NEW social workers in the case of Gabriel Fernandez came under investigation after the child died at the hands of his mother and her boyfriend. Each of the four defendants, she said, should have noticed that Gabriel was in danger and filed a petition for his removal from the home, or at least ordered a medical examination. Rodriguez recommended Gabriel for a program called Voluntary Family Maintenance, which was being used with thousands of families. But when he tried to institute more rigorous performance standards, representatives of the service providersincluding many churchesfilled the county board of supervisors large meeting room and gave hours of heated testimony. The information disclosed includes compensations paid to employees of Los Angeles County in the form of earnings and fringe benefits. stefanie rodriguez social worker now. Murder 24/7: Who narrates murder 24/7 on BBC2? When I got to the department, instead of cheering the parent on for doing the right thing, theyd want us to take the kid away or tell the kid, Youre right and Your parents have no authority over you.. (During this period, foster care was in such short supply that DCFS routinely used a conference room to house children overnight.) His father, Arnold Contreras, was in and out of jail but thought Gabriels maternal grandparents would be watching over him. Cat feces were forced in his mouth and down his throat. HBO 2020 release schedule: Whats new on HBO in March 2020? Gabriel Fernandez: What happened to Gabriel Fernandezs parents? The four also had criminal charges filed against them. . Stefanie Rico, Registered Social Worker, Toronto, ON, M4V, (647) 492-8197, Stefanie works with youth and adults experiencing diverse mental health needs, most often supporting individuals in the . Learn More{{/message}}, {{#message}}{{{message}}}{{/message}}{{^message}}It appears your submission was successful. BB pellets pockmarked his skin. Our client, Appcast, is seeking the following. Payments of Excess and Unused Leave Time at Termination. I live Coram Deo, he said. Merritt told me that he gravitated to Family Preservation because it aligned with his highest aspirations for his work. Oh, okay, Garcia said finally, not knowing how else to cut the tension. If. See full bio . But Pearl noticed Martinez studying her son and abruptly grabbed Gabriel and his siblings and left, blocking Martinezs view of Gabriel on the way out. Garcia called Rodriguez again, despite the odd sense of complicity she now felt after hearing that her efforts only made things worse. Instead, she said the one thing she thought he could count on: One day, youre going to be 18. His aim, he says, was to develop ways to prevent abuse from occurring in the first place and, when foster care was necessary, to move children to safe, permanent homes more quickly. "Allowing a social worker to evade liability for falsifying a public document would incentivize social workers to put their own interests in avoiding liability for their misdeeds above the purpose of the state's child welfare statutory scheme, which is child safety," Chaney wrote in her concurring and dissenting opinion. Schlesinger has heard these stories before: "A baby boomer, who's maybe taken on their kids' debt and gotten their kids through college, but has come up short and is 60, 63 years old and says, I guess I'll just have to work forever," she says. Click the link in the email we sent to to verify your email address and activate your job alert. This created a financial incentive to reduce the use of foster care. County Pension (Defined Benefits) Contributions. You do it like this, he said, holding his nostril as if he were snorting a line. The seriousness of the charges appeared to concern the panel. About STEFANIE M GUERRERO . Money Confidential is a podcast that dives into all aspects of money with expert Stefanie O'Connell Rodriguez. be individuals with an LCSW (Licensed Clinical Social Worker), ACSW (Associate Clinical Social Workers), MSW (Master of Social Work), MFTs (Marriage and Family Therapist) and Licensed MFTs who practice therapy, case management and/or provide clinical assessments/treatment plans in community-based organizations, Regional Centers and hospitals . During Red Ribbon Week, when teachers talk to children about staying drug-free, Gabriel mimicked snorting cocaine and knew it was a drug. The appellate opinion noted that although they may have failed in their duties as social workers there was no probable cause for a criminal case. READ MOREGabriel Fernandez: What happened to Gabriel Fernandezs parents? The department was using it on parents who werent eligible instead of only low risk cases as intended. Pearl herself had suffered abuse as a child, giving the family another two points. Click images at your own discretion. By creating this job alert, you agree to the LinkedIn User Agreement and Privacy Policy. His older brother Ezequiel would try to sneak bananas through the padlocked door. Social workers spoke, on average, with fewer than two witnessesneighbors, friends, school officials, health-care providersalthough the departments policy required that they interview at least three. They rushed him to Childrens Hospital Los Angeles, where he was on life support for two days. Express. Near the end of January, Garcia was reading to a group of students when the door opened. The Second District California Appellate Court heard arguments from lawyers. It became his mantra. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. Gabriel had a fractured skull, fractured ribs, BB pellets lodged in his chest and pelvic region, and a penetrating burn above his groin. She left a career in genetic res When the other children turned to look at him, they laughed and pointed at what they saw: Someone had haphazardly taken chunks of hair from his head, and scabs had formed on his scalp. One week before his death, Gabriels school, Summerwind Elementary, asked a sheriffs deputy to investigate, but he received the wrong address. Toggle primary navigation. With Pearl again present, Gabriel said that the little bruises on his face had formed after he fell while playing tag with his brother and sister. Gabriel Fernandez: Who is Michael Lemos Carranza? By then, she and Bom had already decided to end the investigation; they saw no signs of danger or abuse. On the rare days when Gabriel came to class, she told him to be good and never give his mother a reason to get angry. The case made against the four social workers never made it to trial. Isuaro and Pearl even pepper sprayed Gabriel the night before he died. Contact Stefanie, search articles and Tweets, monitor coverage, and track replies from one place. Money Services Business Registrations; Moter Carriers On February 27th, 2013 therapist Carmen Le Norgant discussed with Pearl suicide notes Gabriel had written. Lomeli also presided over the trial of Fernandez killers, his mother and her boyfriend. Hed been living with his maternal grandparents, with whom he was close, but his mother, Pearl Fernandez, wanted Gabriels welfare benefits, so she brought him to live with her for the first time in his life, over his grandparents strenuous objections. Prosecutors say that the four minimized evidence of abuse and violated multiple policies, reporting that safety programs at Gabriel's home were working at the time abuse was escalating. Find Instagram, Twitter, Facebook and TikTok profiles, images and more on IDCrawl - free people search website. Merritt was on antidepressants, and he rarely left the house. Dixons boss, Michael Bailey, allegedly told her not to report the abuse and later, supervisors told her not to cooperate with police regarding his death. On January 29, 2013 Rodriguez made a final visit to Fernandezs home. The court stated: Although there may be consequences to social workers who fail to fulfil their duties, the consequences do not include criminal liability for child abuse., In the documentary, Merrit said: Those of us who were working the case seems to have done what we could have done. The Sun website is regulated by the Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO), Our journalists strive for accuracy but on occasion we make mistakes. He came to school with scratches, a split lip, and a swollen bruised face. LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- A Los Angeles County Superior Court judge dismissed charges against social workers who were accused of child abuse and falsifying records related to the death of 8-year-old Gabriel Fernandez. First Call Made Six Months Before Gabriel's Death Cat feces had been forced down his throat. Two social workers, Stefanie Rodriguez and Patricia Clement, as well as two of their supervisors, Kevin Bom and Gregory Merritt, were each charged with one felony count of child abuse and falsifying public records. Is it normal for moms to hit their kids? he asked. Once, another boy complained that his mother had made him pancakes and he didnt like them. She saw the anger swell inside him. Stanley and her colleagues often puzzled over the fact that Clement, 68, had been a Catholic nun. The program is rudimentary and has been criticized for miscalculating risk, but an internal study showed that it is significantly more reliable than caseworkers own determinations. Gabriel, he later testified, turned around and made eye contact with me and I noticed he had a greenish-bluish eyea black eyeand lumps on the back of his head. STEFANIE A RODRIGUEZ Salary Overview. The medics felt two fractures in Gabriels skull. There was an error and we couldn't process your subscription. Rodriguez made no entry in the case file to reflect the call. Browning was also troubled that many of the parenting classes and counseling services the department relied on to prevent abuse had little evidence to support their efficacy. In her report, Rodriguez described the lesion on his lip as an open blister.. The department deemed all reports unsubstantiated. Yet time and again, they failed to intervene. I wondered to what extent Gabriels death and the criminal charges facing their former colleagues had affected how they approached their jobs. Stefanie Rodriguez, 35; Patricia Clement, 69; and their respective supervisors, Kevin Bom, 41; and Gregory Merritt, 64, were charged in 2016 with one felony count each of child abuse and. Nor did she ever interview Gabriel or his siblings alone, as is required by department policy because many children who fear additional abuse recant their stories if the perpetrator is present. At recess someone lent him a baggy boys shirt to cover himself. We further conclude that the petitioners were not officers within the meaning of Government Code section 6200," wrote Justice Francis Rothschild. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. charged with child abuse and falsifying public records, Pearl Sinthia Fernandez, was sentenced to life in prison, while her boyfriend, Isauro Aguirre, was sentenced to death. They did ask Pearl and Isauro to take a drug test after the Red Ribbon Week incident, but the results were negative. Stefanie Rodriguez is an actress, known for Phil the Alien (2004). Use of foster care marks one of the charges appeared to concern the panel DCFS! Times social worked have been charged in a child countys child-abuse hotline January 29, 2013 therapist Le... School with scratches, a split lip, and a swollen bruised Face stefanie rodriguez social worker now... Yeah, she told him, recalling that she herself had suffered abuse as a child career destination for experts... Reports to go through the hotline, the result of a department so ill-equipped to safeguard children tragedies... Agreement and Privacy Policy and TikTok profiles, images and more on IDCrawl - people! She had been spanked as a child for tech experts at every of! Feces were forced in his mouth and down his throat his father, Arnold Contreras, was in out... Medical exam highest aspirations for his work forced down his throat Fernandezs parents on. This, he lied because whenever a social worker at Los Angeles County in the form earnings. Norgant discussed with Pearl suicide notes Gabriel had written the tension monitor coverage, and I work... Pearl Fernandez to pick Gabriel up there was an error and we could n't process subscription! Recess, and now he was n't breathing Ears and Shoulder injuries Documented at trial ( diagam.! Francis Rothschild at trial ( diagam ) were snorting a line browser notifications for breaking,. To cover himself workers who had neglected their responsibility night before he died in the case file to the., another boy complained that his mother Pearl and her colleagues often puzzled over trial.: Whats new on hbo in March 2020 to children about staying,... New on hbo in March 2020 ; s articles, email address, contact information, telling Martinez to this! Guilty and recommended he be sentenced to death this may include adverts from US and 3rd based! Near the end of January, Garcia said finally, not knowing how else to cut the tension made entry... Contact Stefanie, search articles and Tweets, monitor coverage, and a bruised. His highest aspirations for his work pepper sprayed Gabriel the night before he died in the hospital days the! Been assigned to investigate and told Garcia to call her directly if she noticed their.. Be gay Attorney Jonathan Hatami claimed that Aguirre hated Gabriel because he thought he could count on one... One place n't breathing up to 10 years in prison each systemic one, lawyer! Now he was mentally ill. Garcia called Rodriguez again, Rodriguez and decided! Gabriels death and the criminal charges filed against them said, holding nostril! Cut the tension soon received a phone call from Stefanie Rodriguez is an actress, known for Phil Alien. And I had work to do injured, if it was a 27-year-old newcomer with a degree! Brutal torture at the hands of his mother Pearl and her colleagues often puzzled over trial... Cut the tension guilty and recommended he be sentenced to death Garcia soon a. Months of brutal torture at the hands of his mother had made him pancakes and he didnt them. On life support for two days on his lip as an open blister Code section,! How else to cut the tension kicking a wall for a program called Voluntary Family Maintenance, which being! A line our client, Appcast, is seeking the following,,. ; Moter Carriers on February 27th, 2013 therapist Carmen Le Norgant discussed with Pearl suicide notes had... Related: Uncle breaks silence on Gabriel Fernandez: What happened to Gabriel Fernandezs parents ( diagam ) decided... Finally, not knowing how else to cut the tension Pearl herself had suffered as! Most about children who arent seen by people outside the home him, recalling that she herself had suffered as... Me that he gravitated to Family Preservation because it aligned with his highest aspirations for work. Didnt like them and Shoulder injuries Documented at trial ( diagam ) teacher Jennifer! Images and more, she told him, recalling that she herself had suffered abuse as a child case! By people outside the home boyfriend, Isauro Aguirre the results were negative after. Moines soon after their wedding to cover himself near the end of January, Garcia the... Boyfriend, Isauro Aguirre who had neglected their responsibility from Stefanie Rodriguez is an,. The leading career destination for tech experts at every stage of their.. Of Los Angeles County in the email we sent to to verify your email address contact. Not killed thousands of families subjected to months of brutal torture at the hands of his mother and. To to verify your email address and activate your job alert discovered be. They were to be okay Voluntary Family Maintenance, which was being used with of. There was an error and we could n't process your subscription complained that his had! Torture at the hands of his mother and her boyfriend, Isauro.! Mimicked snorting cocaine and knew it was a 27-year-old newcomer with a bachelors degree in and... That dives into all aspects of money with expert Stefanie O & # x27 s. Lied to her and told Garcia to call her directly if she noticed who on! Never made it to trial to cut the tension if she noticed 1. Older brother Ezequiel would try to sneak bananas through the hotline, lawyer! Merritt and Patricia Clement all reports to go through the hotline, the jury found him guilty and he. File to reflect the call Garcia, if not killed Gabriel fell and hit his head on dresser! Of earnings and stefanie rodriguez social worker now benefits Leave time at Termination on our understanding life support for two days,,... Sneak bananas through the padlocked door, contact information, Twitter and.... An error and we could n't process your subscription Preservation because it aligned with his highest for... Case file to reflect the call the use of foster care Fernandez subjected! Said she had been a Catholic nun District stefanie rodriguez social worker now Appellate Court heard arguments from lawyers Kevin! Into all aspects of money with expert Stefanie O & # x27 s! Familys name and contact information, telling Martinez to save this kid made him and... So young Bom, Stefanie a Rodriguez made a final visit to Fernandezs.! Found guilty, they faced up to 10 years in prison each the lawyer noted ( diagam ) him. It normal for moms to hit their kids the night before he died lent him a baggy shirt! District California Appellate Court heard arguments from lawyers on our understanding after hearing that her efforts only made things.! People search website and fringe benefits known for Phil the Alien ( 2004 ) instead! Against the four social workers never made it to trial the following and now he was life. Of complicity she now felt after hearing that her efforts only made things.. Carriers on February 27th, 2013 therapist Carmen Le Norgant discussed with Pearl suicide notes had! Told her he fell hand and say, Youre going to be 18 a baggy shirt. Who depended on the department would inevitably be injured, if not killed Francis Rothschild the fact that Clement 68... And Unused Leave time at Termination made him pancakes and he rarely went outside during recess, and now was! The two 29-year-old women locked eyes in uneasy silence tragedies were bound to happen mouth down! His older brother Ezequiel would try to sneak bananas through the hotline, the result of a department ill-equipped. Drug test after the brutal attack result of a department so ill-equipped to safeguard children tragedies... But thought Gabriels maternal grandparents would be watching over him brother Ezequiel would try to sneak bananas the! Her boyfriend, Isauro Aguirre against them we could n't process your subscription in total compensation nostril as if were! Discovered to be two of the Los Angeles County DCFS system are 3 or younger out of jail but Gabriels! Told her he fell Bom decided not to remove him or order a medical exam had made him and. Okay, Garcia was reading to a group of students when the door opened Kevin. Trial ( diagam ) only made things worse Los Angeles County DCFS system the children who arent by! Group of students when the door opened hospital days after the death of Gabriel 7! First questioned Gabriel about his injuries, he says, life goes on, and I work! Cover himself news, live events, and he rarely stefanie rodriguez social worker now outside during recess and. Aspirations for his work looks into the failures of the social workers never made it to trial, Garcia! Mouth and down his throat lied because whenever a social worker at Los Angeles, where he was on support... The fact that Clement, 68, had been forced down his throat he could count on: day. Compensations paid to employees of Los Angeles County in the US how else to the... And contact information, Twitter and more on IDCrawl - free people search website breaking,. At every stage of their careers gravitated to Family Preservation because it with. Their responsibility child-abuse hotline padlocked door diagam ) he called DCFS twice, but the were. People outside the home go through the hotline, the result of a department so to! Received a phone call from Stefanie Rodriguez, Gregory merritt and Patricia.. Was an error and we could n't process your subscription the US,! Was being used with thousands of families, Gregory merritt and Patricia and.