A heartbreaking story from Palmdale, California, has come to a close with a guilty plea.
Jose Cuatro, 32, and Ursula Juarez, 30, admitted to torturing and killing their 4-year-old son, Noah, in court last Friday.
This comes after a tragic incident in July 2019, where Cuatro and Juarez initially reported Noah had drowned in a communal pool.
However, authorities soon discovered a different story.
An autopsy revealed Noah's death wasn't related to drowning. Shockingly, it showed signs of long-term abuse.
The cause of death was ruled a homicide.
Further investigation uncovered a disturbing history.
Court documents, according to FOX 11, detailed repeated abuse by Noah's parents.
The Los Angeles Times reported that Cuatro and Juarez had previously lost custody of Noah, who was placed with his great-grandmother, Eva Hernandez.
Sadly, Noah was returned to his parents in 2018.
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However, a tip about possible sexual abuse led the Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) to launch an investigation.
Tragically, Noah's death occurred before the investigation's conclusion.
Following the guilty pleas, Noah's aunt, Maggie Hernandez, expressed her mixed emotions to KABC. "I'm relieved with the outcome," she said, "but I can't forgive them. We loved Noah so much."
While justice has been served for Noah, the case raises questions about the actions of DCFS.
The Los Angeles Times reported that Eva Hernandez filed a lawsuit against the agency in 2020, alleging they failed to protect Noah.
If you suspect child abuse, resources are available. The National Child Abuse Hotline can be reached at 1-800-4-A-Child or online at www.childhelp.org.
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