Death Penalty Looms: Couple’s Indictment For Murder and Torture
Photo: Kareem Ernesto Leiva (KTLA)
ANTELOPE VALLEY – An indictment unsealed on October 31st charged a woman and her boyfriend with the torture and murder of her son. Heather Maxine Barron (dob 9/29/89) and Kareem Ernesto Leiva (dob 12/23/85), both of Lancaster, are charged with capital murder and other counts.
Authorities charged the couple with torturing and killing 10-year-old Anthony Avalos. The L.A. County District Attorney also added charges of physical abuse of two children. The indictment, returned on October 30, supersedes case MA074159.
Heather Maxine Barron (KTLA)
One count is for murder with a special circumstance allegation of intentional murder with the infliction of torture.
“The defendants also face one count of torture involving Anthony and two counts of child abuse involving two other children in the home,” said the DA. “The indictment additionally includes a special allegation that Leiva personally inflicted great bodily injury upon one of the children in circumstances involving domestic violence.”
As a result, the special circumstance allegation makes the defendants eligible for the death penalty. The DA’s Office will decide at a later time whether to seek life in prison. This would be without the possibility of parole or the death penalty.
Barron and Leiva pleaded not guilty. They next have a pretrial hearing scheduled on December 3.
