Heather Maxine Barron and her boyfriend Kareem Ernesto Leiva, who tortured and murdered the woman's 10-year-old son Anthony Avalos in 2018, were sentenced Tuesday to life in prison without the possibility of parole.
of first-degree murder and torture for Anthony's June 21, 2018 death. Superior Court Judge Sam Ohta, who found the couple guilty, handed down the life-without-parole sentences for the pair Tuesday morning after hearing more than two hours of emotional statements from the boy's relatives and friends, many of whom referred to the defendants as "monsters."On Tuesday, several of Anthony's relatives came forward to read statements ahead of the sentencing announcement.
"If it wasn't for you, Anthony would still be here, and none of us would have to be here doing this. It is also because of Heather that he is not here anymore. She did not do her job. She did not protect us. To me, you are both monsters and Heather, you're not my mother. If I knew that the abuse would have ended with me losing my brother, I would have said something. But I didn't, because I was scared and terrified. And I'm not anymore… I have learned to accept it.
"Growing up, I loved her. She was my family, my aunt. She was someone who was very dear to me. But she ruined that. She destroyed the image I had for her in my head. She disappointed me more than anyone in my life ever has and ruined all the love I had for her because of her actions. She is dead to me. But my heart is full today, and it's been filled with hate for the last few years for Kareem and Heather.
"Heather is no longer my aunt. She is no longer our family. I barely even consider her a person now. No human being would ever do that to such a sweet boy. I wish Heather nothing but the worst. She doesn't deserve to be happy. She deserves to rot away in hell forever. I hate her and I hope she dies in the most painful way ever. We will never forget my sweet cousin, Anthony Nolan. He will live on in our hearts forever. Thank you, your honorable judge, for all your time and effort.
"It has been four years, ten months and four days. I am still in disbelief that he's gone. I am disgusted. It was at the hands of my sister and the man that she allowed in her life." "I hope they know they are in our thoughts every single day, and hopefully one day we can be reunited. No amount of tears, prayers, hopes or wishes will bring him back. However, his surviving siblings need to know that justice will be served. Their pain, loss, suffering, along with the loss of their brother was not in vain. They deserve closure, peace and healing. Your Honor, I beg you, please give both Heather and Kareem the maximum sentencing allowed. These two are monsters.
"I want you to when you're making your decision. I'm pretty sure you already made your decision. But I want you to know that what these people did to these children is it is unspeakable. But not only what they did to him physically, they will live with the rest of their life mentally. They have to live knowing that their brother is going. They have to live knowing the guilt that they feel because they didn't say something.
"So I've known Anthony almost my entire life. We grew up together, spent holidays and birthdays together. We had such a strong bond and connection that he was honestly the best friend I could ever ask for. Anthony was never related to me by blood. I still do call him my cousin. Anthony was my shoulder to lean on… Anthony was protective over me and my siblings. He had a tremendous amount of love for everybody. He was always there for me when I needed him.
"I can't ever say sorry, Anthony, for being mean to him, but in a way I feel bad for my 9-year-old self. I feel bad for her because I hate her. I hate her because she drove Anthony away. And that little girl deserves to be hated by her future self. But because the two of you decided to take the life of my best friend, I have to live with my regrets. I won't be able to say sorry, and I can't ever see him again.
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