![Noah Cuatro [Image via gofundme]](https://theavtimes.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/Noah-gofundme-1.jpg)
Noah’s parents reported a drowning in their family pool in the 1200 block of East Avenue S around 4 p.m. July 5, but the boy’s injuries later raised suspicions about how he died. Medical staff found the trauma he had suffered inconsistent with drowning.
The youngster was taken first to Palmdale Regional Medical Center and then to Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, where he was pronounced dead July 6.
Sheriff Alex Villanueva announced the following week that an investigation was underway into the boy’s death. Villanueva said Noah lived with his parents and three siblings. Authorities said those siblings have been taken into protective custody.
No arrests have been made.
Funeral services were held at the San Fernando Mission Catholic Cemetery.
A group of local activists held a vigil outside the cemetery in support of Eva Hernandez, the boy’s great-grandmother, claiming she was barred by Noah’s parents from attending the service due to her allegations the boy was abused. Brian Claypool, Hernandez’s attorney, has been pushing for a federal civil rights investigation into the boy’s death.
Noah’s death has also raised questions about the handling of his case by the county Department of Children and Family Services.
There were previous reports to DCFS regarding the boy, but the details of those reports have not been publicly disclosed.
At a recent board meeting, county Supervisor Janice Hahn hinted at some mistakes made, saying social workers had argued for the boy to be removed from his family home but a judge initially denied that request.
“We didn’t get him out of that home in time and we should have,” Hahn said.
Sources told the Los Angeles Times that Noah was removed from his parents’ home in 2016 and lived in foster care for two years before they regained custody.
In May, after a report that the boy’s father had kicked his wife and children in public, a DCFS social worker requested a court order to remove Noah from the family home, according to those sources. Superior Court Commissioner Steven Ipson granted the request May 15, the newspaper reported, relying on its sources as the court documents are not publicly available.
Noah was the third boy in the Antelope Valley to die as a result of suspected abuse. The others were 8-year-old Gabriel Fernandez, who was killed in 2013 by his mother and her boyfriend after social workers mishandled evidence of escalating abuse and failed to file timely reports; and Anthony Avalos, a 10-year-old Lancaster boy who died June 21, 2018, and whose parents are awaiting trial for his death. Both boys had been tortured.
Why Noah remained in his parents’ care for roughly three weeks after a court issued an order for his removal has not been explained.
DCFS Director Bobby Cagle told the Board of Supervisors he wanted to make more information public and was seeking leeway from the courts to do so.
“This death happened on my watch,” Cagle said. “I fully accept the responsibility for the work that was done.”
Previous related stories:
LA County board says shortage of Antelope Valley social workers amounts to crisis
Authorities ordered Palmdale child removed from home weeks before death
Investigation launched into 4-year-old Palmdale boy’s death
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I todd you says
Please google Dr. Susan Spell and read why she is suing los anngeles county dcfs and social workers for $750,000,000. Epoch Times.
Robert says
Sterilization should be in the works for those on welfare and social programs. A limit for production.
This kid’s parents had three other kids and living in an apartment?
Enough breeding already !
Ball Hawk says
Hey dude, just go do society a favor – castrate yourself. You are on welfare and you don’t even know it. You fool.
Mr Whiteisright says
All children killed by their parents in this article are Mexicans. Do Mexicans still sacrifice their children to the gods like the Aztec did?
El Chapo says
No they sacrifice them to dcfs.
Kiki says
How are you so sure they are mexicans?
Ms. K. Larger says
Janice stop protecting that homosexual dcfs director friend of yours. Its not even your district.
And what sources did the AV Times consult? Only ones allowed in the courtroom are parents; judge; and attorneys. Unless there’s a big fat mole in the clerks office.
sterilize them says
if people wouldn’t abuse torture and murder their children we wouldn’t need DCFS. any parent in this position should be sterilized immediately so they can’t have anymore.
Lawsuit Time says
You not too aware. In fact I think that is the most ignorant comment. Dont you know DCFS has been repeatedly sued by parents who were falsely accused and had their children torn away.
All it takes is an anonymous call and the evil begins.
Fight the Power says
DCFS’s failure to follow a court order is totally unacceptable. I suspect there are more trangressions hidden behind the veil of secrecy. When kids under the auspices of DCFS keep dying that’s a clear sign of disfunction.
Children cannot afford for DCFS to make mistakes.
How many more kids will die because Palmdale’s DCFS is disfunctional?
Perhaps there should be a recall of the County Board of Supervisor member who also fails to act.
Unbelievable says
Very sad but predictable
With all the road traffic deaths recently and this … how’s that sanctuary state stuff working out for us?
Make California great again !
Deport in masses
Funeral says
RIP Noah Cuatro.
Disgusted says
City News Service? Who wrote this article? It’s 50 days from May 15 – the day Ispon issued the order to remove – to July 5 – the day he was taken to the hospital.
So that’s not 3 weeks: Thats 7 weeks.
Once again DCFS violates the public’s trust.
DCFS needs new leadership. The social worker (CSW); the social workers supervisor (SCSW); and the ARA as well as Bobby Cagel should all be terminated immediately.
Then, the Justice Department must investigate why this boys civil rights were not protected. The DCFS personnel should be indicted for murder. They should also be put in jail for contempt of court.
I have a story to tell. says
@Disgusted, I like your ideas. If only you could see Ipson in action. Disgusted doesn’t describe it. Anyone who sees the pattern here please write to our Department of Justice and reference AV DCFS. Once they receive enough complaints, a federal review can be opened. This is obviously not a singular occurrence. More children await abuse due to the department’s employees who are not following their job descriptions. Not everyone in the department is bad at their job. We all know the saying though, one bad apple spoils the bunch. We have a few bad apples here. If you are an employee who knows you do your job, start reporting those who don’t. Don’t be a silent supporter. @Fight the power you are correct about that. My story will be loud very soon.
Marsupial Run says
Do tell about Ipson. I think he is only a rubber stamp for dcfs.
I’m all for changing the name of the Antelope Valley to the Kangaroo Valley in honor of Kangaroo Court aka childrens court.
I have a story to tell. says
@Marsupial Run. That is a very accurate description of him. I know of children being placed with their abusers. I know he violates Ca court rules. He has made decisions to give another child to a convicted Domestic Violence abuser. He uses his time in court biting his nails, heavy sighs and staring down parents. He goes against department recommendations. I see a pattern of him giving the offending parent more custodial time if it is the father. He has made decisions for no sibling visitations. Closed cases that needed supervision. If anyone else has experienced his lack of competence to the law, and what’s in the best interest of the children, report him to the commissioner board. Steven E Ipson, not to be confused with Steven E Ipsen. They say.