Shuvrajit Das Biswas
Netflix’s ‘The Trials of Gabriel Fernandez‘ brings the bone-chilling death of an eight-year-old boy into the spotlight. We see how Gabriel faced torture at the hands of his mother, Pearl, and her boyfriend, Isauro. While the series itself goes on to condemn the systemic failure of which Gabriel was a victim, the horrific torture of the boy is what truly is the focus.
Gabriel’s case was rare in the sense that it was one of the very few times that the death penalty was sought out for a death arising from child abuse. However, the prosecutors and the public felt that the horrendous torture warranted this. Curious to find out who Isauro was and where he is now? We have got you covered in that regard.
Who is Isauro Aguirre?
Isauro Aguirre came in contact with Gabriel when the latter came to live with his mother, Pearl. Both Isauro and Pearl started torturing him, thinking Gabriel was gay. The torture went to a point where Isauro was not just punching and kicking Gabriel but also made him eat cat feces.
But Isauro was not always this horrific abuser. Many reports from social workers have stated that he went to work and owned a car, suggesting he was once a decent man. He did not have any gang affiliations, and as the defense pointed out, he had no prior criminal record. It seems like his deterioration began once he came in contact with Pearl.
A case has been made about his learning disabilities and intellectual difficulties, which would have made it possible for Pearl to have a sway over him. Isauro has a sister, Elizabeth, who testified in his case, saying he was a “caring and helpful older brother in a hard-working family.”According to two of his ex-girlfriends, he is respectful and helpful, as well. His former employer is questioned about the time Isauro was in his 20s, working at the Woodland Hills at the Woodland Park Retirement Hotel. From her testimony, it is clear that he was well-loved by his colleagues and residents, and his former employer went on to say that she believed he had good in him.
But despite all the evidence that he was once a decent and caring individual, there is no denying that Isauro Aguirre is a living monster. While you can argue on the merits and demerits of capital punishment, Aguirre definitely deserves the harshest punishment there is.
Isauro Aguirre is Still on Death Row
During his trial, Aguirre showed no remorse, did not make eye contact, and did not shed tears. He kept rolling his hands. Ultimately, he was sentenced to death for murder and murder by torture. He was sent to prison on June 13, 2018. He is 39 years old and has a condemned status. Isauro is currently in San Quentin State Prison in California, as you can check out on the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation site.
So, yes, Aguirre is still alive, and it might be a while before Isauro actually dies. Notably, most of the death row inmates have to wait for months, and even years, as there are ongoing legal disputes in California over capital punishment.
That being said, in the case of Isauro, it is clear that he always had public opinion working against him. People were baying for blood after Gabriel’s death, and he fit the bill. If you check out a Facebook post made by a group wanting justice for Gabriel, you can see the hatred they have for what Isauro did to the helpless boy. That simply did not get eclipsed by any amount of good things people heard about him at the trial, leading to his deserved sentencing.
Read More: Where is Pearl Fernandez?
