Los Angeles County officials are preparing to vote on a $20 million settlement in the case of Noah Cuatro, a 4-year-old Palmdale boy whose short life was marked by abuse, warnings unheeded, and a death that has haunted his family and community for years.
The proposed payout stems from a lawsuit filed in 2020 by Noah’s great-grandmother, Evangelina Hernandez, on behalf of his three siblings. The suit alleged that the Department of Children and Family Services ignored repeated reports of abuse and failed to enforce a court order to remove the boy from his parents’ custody just weeks before his death in July 2019.
Earlier this month, the county’s Claims Board recommended that the Board of Supervisors approve the settlement. A vote is expected after Sept. 3.
Supervisor Kathryn Barger, who represents the Antelope Valley, issued a statement acknowledging the lasting pain surrounding the case. “Noah Cuatro’s death was a profound tragedy, and no settlement can ever atone for his suffering or undo the loss his relatives have experienced,” Barger said. “While I cannot comment on the details of the pending settlement, I remain committed to ensuring that Los Angeles County continues to strengthen protections for vulnerable children.”
For Hernandez and other family members, the settlement reflects years of anguish that began long before Noah’s death. They had repeatedly raised alarms about his safety, calling DCFS and law enforcement to report suspected abuse.
At times, the county placed Noah and his siblings in Hernandez’s care, only to send them back to their parents. One pediatrician reported Noah for malnutrition, according to the lawsuit, and still he was returned home. By May 2019, witnesses claimed to have seen his father kicking him and his siblings in public. Allegations of sexual abuse also surfaced.
A county social worker even petitioned a judge for Noah’s removal from his parents. The petition was granted. But the order was never enforced.
On July 5, 2019, Noah’s parents, Jose Maria Cuatro Jr. and Ursula Elaine Juarez, told authorities that their son had drowned in a swimming pool at their apartment complex on East Avenue S. He was taken to Palmdale Regional Medical Center and later transferred to Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, where he died the following day.
Investigators quickly determined that Noah’s injuries did not match a drowning. Instead, authorities concluded he had been tortured and murdered. Within days, his three siblings were placed in protective custody, and a criminal case was launched.
In March 2024, Jose Cuatro and Ursula Juarez pleaded no contest to murder and torture charges. Jose was sentenced to 32 years to life in prison, while Juarez received 22 years to life. Both waived their right to appeal.
In court, Superior Court Judge Robert G. Chu called Noah’s death a “devastating loss” and told relatives he recognized the love they carried for the boy. “I am confident he will never be forgotten,” Chu said.
At the sentencing, Hernandez addressed her great-grandson’s killers directly. “Why, my God, why is there such evil in you, Ursula? What kind of monster are you, Jose?” she asked. “You’re both very sick. You are the worst kind of sickos.”
Other relatives spoke of the lasting pain Noah’s absence has left behind. His great-aunt, Maggie Hernandez, recalled how Juarez had once painted herself as a devoted mother while allegedly abusing Noah behind closed doors. “I will never forget him,” she said, “and I will never forget the monsters who took him away from us.”
Assemblyman Tom Lackey, R-Palmdale, also spoke during the sentencing, saying Noah’s memory should remain a call to action. He recalled a request the boy once made: “never forget me.”
“It deserves to be noted,” Lackey said, “that the tragedy of Noah Cuatro has been and will continue to be felt far beyond these courtroom walls.”
Outside the courtroom, relatives of other children who died in high-profile abuse cases — including 10-year-old Anthony Avalos and 8-year-old Gabriel Fernandez — gathered to show support. “It keeps happening over and over again,” Avalos’ aunt, Maria Barron, said. “DCFS needs to be held accountable.”
In the aftermath of Noah’s death, DCFS conducted an internal review and concluded its staff had acted appropriately. The agency has nevertheless described his case as a source of “deep pain and mourning” for both county workers and the wider community.
“Any time a child dies from suspected neglect or abuse, the Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services grieves,” the department said in a statement. “Tragedies of this nature reaffirm our purpose of striving to keep children safe and families well.”
Pasadena-based Hathaway-Sycamores Child and Family Services, a contractor also named in the lawsuit, was accused of knowing about potential abuse but failing to report it. In a statement, the organization denied wrongdoing, saying staff had no contact with Noah after a court ordered him back to his mother in late 2018.
As the county prepares to vote on the settlement, Noah Cuatro’s case continues to highlight ongoing concerns about Los Angeles County’s child welfare system and its ability to protect vulnerable children.
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