A couple from California who killed and tortured their 4-year-old boy will be imprisoned for the ensuing decades.
Jose Maria Cuatro, Jr., 32, and Ursula Elaine Juarez, 30, entered a plea of not guilty to two counts each regarding Noah Cuatro’s death in July 2019.
This was done in late March. The boy’s father admitted guilt to charges of first-degree murder and torture. The boy’s mother admitted to being guilty of both torture and second-degree murder.
The couple stated that the child’s death was due to an unintentional drowning that happened in the Palmdale apartments where the family resided. But an autopsy disproved that assertion.
Noah was found with dry hair and no water in his lungs, despite the fact that he had asphyxiated to death. The medical examiner also found signs of sexual assault and physical force injuries. In addition, Noah had numerous ribs that were in different phases of healing, body bruises, and other interior injuries, such as a lacerated liver.
Judge Robert G. Chu of Los Angeles County Superior Court sentenced Jose Cuatro to 32 years to life in prison on Tuesday, while Juarez received a sentence of 22 years to life in jail.
Both defendants forfeited their right to an appeal of their convictions or penalties as part of their plea agreement.
According to a courtroom report by the local wire source City News Service, Noah’s great-grandmother criticized the murdering parents during their sentence hearing in a statement delivered by a prosecutor.
“Why, my God, why is there such evil in you, Ursula? What kind of monster are you, Jose?” The great-grandmother who was previously in charge of Noah, Evangelina Hernandez, stated in her statement. “You’re both very sick! You are the worst kind of sickos.”
Juarez had previously admitted to Hernandez that she didn’t like her own son, Hernandez added. Jose Cuatro seemed to despise Noah, which added to the depressing condition of affairs.
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Grand jury transcripts in the case acquired by West Coast NBC flagship KNBC reveal the prosecution’s claim that the boy’s father did not even think Noah was his son and then singled him out for severe punishment.
To make matters worse, it appears that Golden State officials were aware of the abuse Noah had been subjected to for a considerable amount of time, but they ultimately chose not to take any action, which some feel hastened the boy’s death.
“It deserves to be noted that the tragedy of Noah Cuatro has been and will continue to be felt far beyond these courtroom walls,” Republican state assemblyman Tom Lackey stated amid the sentencing proceedings. “Noah was not only betrayed by his parents, who are sitting here today, but the network established to protect children from mistreatment also failed.”
The only time Noah’s parents lost control of him was when Hernandez arrived to look after him. In 2018, Noah was given back to his parents.
The boy’s social worker asked that he be taken away from his parents two months before to his death. A judge granted this request, but the authorities never followed through on it.
Based on a tip that he had been sexually abused and that other types of domestic violence were happening where he lived, a separate Department of Children and Family Services investigation was launched one month prior to the death.
When Noah passed away the last time, child welfare workers were attempting to speak with family members, according to DCFS officials.
In a victim impact statement, Noah’s great aunt said that Juarez’s horrific actions had destroyed whatever positive memories she may have had of her.
“She would paint a picture of her being a great mom while abusing Noah behind closed doors,” Maggie Hernandez, the boy’s great aunt, stated. “I will never forget him and I will never forget the monsters who took him away from us.”
