The death of Gabriel Fernandez, 8, a year ago sparked outrage and controversy at Los Angeles County's child welfare system.
The boy had been beaten, shot with a BB gun and tortured before he was found in the Palmdale apartment where he lived with his mother, her boyfriend and two siblings.
Custody of Gabriel had recently been returned to his mother, despite more than 60 complaints lodged with the Department of Children and Family Services and eight investigations into the family.
Prior to Pearl Fernandez regaining custody, he was in the care of his maternal grandparents.
Once he moved back in with his mother in October 2012, teachers began noticing bruises and other injuries. They were reported to authorities, but Gabriel remained in the custody of his mother.
In the year since his death, Fernandez's case has become a rallying cry for reform in the system, with protests and demands for change at public meetings across the state.
The outcry sparked the creation of a Blue Ribbon Commission to oversee changes to DCFS.
In late April, that panel returned a detailed report calling on the county to make more than 40 changes to the way child abuse cases are handled in Los Angeles County.
To Read More or to see the Timeline: Click Here
If you have any questions or concerns about what can be done to help children who have suffered from child abuse, or families of children who have died, please call Christopher Keane and The Keane Law Firm toll-free for free consultation at (888) 592-5437 (KIDS), click on contact us here, or use the web form provided at https://www.keanelaw.com