Hundreds of people attended a funeral for a 10-year-old bisexual boy on Saturday (21 July).
He was allegedly tortured to death by his mother and her boyfriend.
Anthony Avalos, 10, was found dead in his Lancaster, California, home last week.
He had died after a series of head injuries. His mother claimed these injuries came from a ‘fall’.
Hundreds come out to support loving family and friends
Parents likely beat a 10-year-old boy to death for announcing he ‘liked boys’, investigators have said.
Anthony’s funeral was held at Saint Junipero Serra Parish in Quartz Hill. Following the mass, the casket was placed on a hearse and taken to Good Shepherd Cemetery.
Many wore attire adorned with superhero emblems. Anthony was a big fan of superheroes.
Maggie Dowdy, a stranger, attended the funeral to pay her respects.
‘I have family and grandchildren of my own. I would hate for anybody to do anything like that to them. We have to stand behind this child and know that people do love him.’
Maria Barron, Anthony’s aunt, thanked the community for coming together show support for her nephew.
Did the welfare system fail Anthony Avalos?
The young boy’s life was cut too short | Photo: YouTube/CBS Los Angeles
Officials were warned by Barron who complained about how the boy was being treated by her sister.
More than a dozen referrals were made regarding physical, emotional and sexual abuse of Anthony since 2013.
Anthony’s mother, Heather Barron, and her boyfriend, Kareem Leiva, are both charged in his murder. They are behind bars and expected to be arraigned next month.
Barron described horrific treatment of Avalos and his siblings, including beatings, starvations, sexual abuse, being locked in small spaces, and denial of water.
Despite teachers, family members and counselors warning of horrific treatment, it is unknown why Avalos was allowed to remain under the care of his allegedly abusive parents.
DCFS director Bobby Cagle said it was ‘premature’ to say Avalos’ torture and death was a failure of the welfare system.
8-year-old boy tortured to death; parents found guilty
Late last year, a Los Angeles couple was found guilty for torturing an eight-year-old boy to death.
Isauro Aguirre, of Palmdale, was sentenced to death.. His girlfriend, the boy’s mother, Pearl Fernandez, pled guilty and was sentenced to life in prison without parole.
The series of brutal acts against eight-year-old Gabriel Fernandez included dousing the boy in pepper spray, forcing him to eat his own feces and vomit, putting cigarettes out on his skin and beating him with a bat.
Aguirre also tied the boy up, locking him in a cage and shooting him with a BB gun.
