Angels in Prison: Couple Sentenced for Decades for Child Torture and Murder

Ursula Elaine Juárez and Jose María Cuatro, a Latin couple known as “The Angels,” were sentenced to decades in prison after pleading no contest to charges of torture and murder of their 4-year-old son in July 2019. On Tuesday, Cuatro, 32, was sentenced to 32 years in prison, while Juárez, 30, received 22 years for the death of their son, Noah Four.

Initially, the couple had pleaded not guilty to the child’s death. On July 5, 2019, they called emergency services claiming that he was drowning in the apartment complex pool where they lived. Hospital staff discovered signs of trauma on the child and he died the next morning. The investigation led by the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department resulted in the couple losing custody of their three other children.

In April of the previous year, they were charged with torturing the minor boy over a four-month period. Maggie Hernandez, who is the boy’s aunt, referred to Cuatro as an “evil monster” in court and expressed her hope that they would never be released from prison. Evangelina Hernandez, the boy’s great-grandmother stated in a written statement that Juarez had mentioned not liking the boy.

In 2020, Hernandez filed a lawsuit against Los Angeles County alleging that Gabriel Fernandez’s death occurred due to multiple reports of abuse being filed with DCFS prior to his death. Similarly, Anthony Avalos died due to abuse by his parents or legal guardians in Los Angeles County in 2018.