Mayor R. Rex Parris Calls for L.A. County Department of Children and Family Services to Report on Reforms Following the Recent Gabriel Fernandez Tragedy Lancaster, CA. June 12, 2013 — In the wake of the murder of young Gabriel Fernandez, a terrible tragedy that shook the Antelope Valley, City of Lancaster Mayor R. Rex Parris at last night’s Lancaster City Council meeting called on the Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) to report on reforms being made to their system. “I would like DCFS to report to us regarding what they are doing to make certain what occurred in Palmdale does not happen again to one of our children,” said Mayor Parris. “This view that we just turn it over to them—the protection of our children—and not be allowed to know why this happened, is beyond my comprehension, and we shouldn’t tolerate it. Our kids have a right to be protected, and we have a sacred duty to do so.” On May 22, when Gabriel Fernandez, an eight-year-old boy, was picked up by paramedics at his mother’s home in Palmdale, they found him not breathing, and with numerous injuries, including burns and a fractured skull. Young Gabriel died later in the hospital. His mother and her boyfriend have been charged with the torture and murder of the child. The case, widely publicized across the Antelope Valley and the nation, triggered a public outcry when it was disclosed that the DCFS had conducted six prior abuse investigations regarding Gabriel’s mother, yet the DCFS had failed to remove him from her presence. Mayor Parris requested that the head of DCFS attend the June 25 City Council meeting to present an in-depth report to the Council and the public regarding any and all changes being made. “We need to know what changes are being put in place to make certain this never happens again in the Antelope Valley,” said Parris.
Posted on: Sat, 15 Jun 2013 06:16:57 +0000
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