A Los Angeles woman and her boyfriend were both convicted of murder in the death of her 10-year-old son, who died more than four years ago.

Heather Maxine Barron, 33, and Kareem Ernesto Leiva, 37, have been found guilty of first-degree murder and torture in the death of her son, Anthony Avalos. They were also charged with child abuse against Anthony’s half-siblings.

On Tuesday, March 7, Judge Sam Ohta of the Superior Court of Los Angeles County read the verdicts, which found both Barron and Leiva guilty of first-degree murder, torture, and two counts of child abuse. The decision came a month after their bench trial began.

According to the evidence, Barron dialed 911 on June 20, 2018, just a few weeks after fourth-grader Avalos’ school year ended. She informed the dispatcher that her son was unresponsive.

According to prosecutors, when responding officers arrived at the house, they discovered the boy in a pathetic state. He had no pulse, bruises and abrasions all over his body, and cigarette burns on his stomach. They said that the young boy was tortured, had been beaten and starved, and had suffered intense physical pain.

Officers rushed him to the hospital, where he was declared in critical condition due to severe dehydration and malnutrition. The doctors were unable to save the boy, and he died the next day.

Prosecutors claimed that Barron had been abusing Avalos and his two siblings for several years, but that the situation deteriorated when she began seeing Leiva. He would beat the kids with a belt, force-feed them hot sauce, and force them to fight each other.

Leiva, a well-known gang member, is accused of stabbing another inmate in jail while awaiting trial. He was also charged with domestic violence in 2010 and 2013.

A $32 million settlement was approved for the Avalos family after they sued county social workers for failing to protect the children despite numerous reports of abuse from 2013 onwards.

Deputy District Attorney Jonathan Hatami chastised County District Attorney George Gascón for barring prosecutors from seeking the death penalty in this case. Under California law, both defendants face a maximum sentence of life in prison.