Los Angeles County approved a $20 million settlement in the wrongful death case of four?year?old Noah Cuatro, who was tortured and killed by his parents in Palmdale in 2019. Noah's family's lawsuit contained allegations that the Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) failed to follow a court order to remove Noah from his parents' custody.
The lawsuit was filed in July 2020 by Noah's great?grandmother, Evangelina Hernandez, on behalf of his three siblings. The plaintiff claims Noah's death was preventable and that DCFS continued to place the children with their parents despite multiple prior abuse reports. Los Angeles County Supervisor Kathryn Barger issued a statement describing the settlement as support for Noah's surviving family and connecting the case to a need for stronger child welfare practices, while DCFS released a statement acknowledging the complexities of child welfare work and committing to learning from past cases and improving practice.
In April 2024, Judge Robert Chu sentenced Noah's father, Jose Maria Cuatro Jr., to 32 years to life in prison and his mother, Ursula Elaine Juarez, to 22 years to life, after they entered no?contest pleas to murder and torture charges related to Noah's July 2019 death, which they had initially reported as a drowning but which medical staff found inconsistent with his injuries.
An amended complaint filed in 2023 alleged that new information showed Noah's siblings were also abused and neglected, including statements from the oldest sibling that he was forced to fight Noah, that the children were often hungry, that he saw his parents hit the other children, and that he feared his father's physical violence.
In deposition testimony summarized in the complaint, social worker Lizbeth Hernandez Aviles recounted concerns from the family's property manager about crying and possible domestic violence, and described the home as foul?smelling, cluttered, and lacking beds for the children, circumstances that the suit alleges triggered a duty to report suspected abuse of the siblings
Noah was taken to Palmdale Regional Medical Center and then to Children's Hospital Los Angeles after his parents reported a pool drowning on July 5, 2019, and he was pronounced dead the next day. The plaintiff alleges these events occurred after DCFS had already received multiple abuse reports regarding the family.
According to the complaint, instead of removing the children, DCFS continued to place them with their parents, where the alleged abuse persisted over several years. The plaintiff further alleges that after Noah's death, some social workers tried to deter Evangelina Hernandez from speaking publicly or pursuing legal action by warning that she could lose her effort to obtain guardianship of the surviving siblings and might never see them again.
Source: https://abc7.com/post/noah-cuatro-case-la-county-expected-approve-20m-settlement-palmdale-boys-torture-death/17911409/
Commentary
The settlement described above represents a profound tragedy involving extreme physical abuse, the torture of a young child over an extended period, and systemic failures by those entrusted to protect vulnerable children. This case underscores the critical importance of vigilant child protection practices and the obligation of caring adults to recognize and report signs of maltreatment.?
Adults who are part of a child safe environment must remain alert to all forms of child maltreatment, including physical abuse. Warning signs may include unexplained injuries such as bruises, burns, or fractures; injuries inconsistent with the explanations provided; a child's expressed fear of returning home or being around certain individuals; signs of malnourishment or poor hygiene; and behavioral changes such as withdrawal, anxiety, or aggression. In this case, neighbors reported hearing crying, there were documented concerns about domestic violence in the home, the residence was described as filthy and foul-smelling, the children lacked proper bedding, and the children were often hungry. These are all indicators that should have prompted immediate protective action.?
When adults observe such warning signs, they have a responsibility to report their concerns to a child protective services agency. Mandatory reporting laws in most jurisdictions require certain professionals - including teachers, healthcare workers, childcare providers, and social workers - to report suspected abuse or neglect. However, any adult who suspects a child is being harmed should make a report because doing so may be the only intervention that protects that child from further harm.
In this case, the child protective agency failed to act in the best interest of Noah and his siblings, despite receiving multiple prior reports of abuse and even a court order to remove the child from the home. Such failures do not relieve other adults of their reporting obligations. When a report is made and concerns persist, adults can and should follow up with the agency to inquire about the status of the case. If the response appears inadequate or the child remains in danger, adults may also report directly to law enforcement. While agencies typically coordinate so that one takes the lead in an investigation, persistent and documented concerns from multiple reporters can help ensure that a case receives the attention it deserves.?
Creating a child safe environment requires a collective commitment from all adults to prioritize the welfare of children above all else. This means not only recognizing and reporting abuse but also advocating persistently when systems fail to respond appropriately. The loss of Noah Cuatro serves as a stark reminder that every adult has a role to play in protecting children, and that vigilance, communication, and follow-through can be the difference between life and death for a child at risk.
