Pearl Fernandez, convicted in the 2013 torture-murder of her 8-year-old son Gabriel, recently filed for resentencing, claiming her attorney coerced her guilty plea and provided ineffective counsel. This marks her second attempt after a similar denial in 2021.
Case Background
Fernandez pleaded guilty in 2018 to first-degree murder with a torture special circumstance, receiving life without parole; her boyfriend Isauro Aguirre got death. Gabriel endured months of abuse including beatings, starvation, binding, burns, and sleeping handcuffed in a closet box.
Prior Resentencing Denial
In 2021, Judge George Lomeli rejected her petition, citing her plea admission of intentional torture-murder over months and waiver of appeal rights. Prosecutors highlighted her major role despite her denials.
Latest Petition Claims
Fernandez alleges low comprehension (second-grade level), misunderstanding her plea as leading to appeal, and counsel coercion. She received outside help for this filing.​
Next Steps
A hearing is set for March 30, 2026, in Los Angeles; Deputy DA Jonathan Hatami vows to oppose, calling repeats unjust to victims.
