A forensic nurse testified during a grand jury hearing for the mother and her boyfriend accused of torturing and killing Gabriel Fernandez, said the wounds the boy suffered were "not normal of a little 8-year-old boy."
The pictures are part of dozens of exhibits recently released by a judge in the case of Pearl Fernandez and Isauro Aguirre. They face the death penalty, accused of torturing her son for months.
Defense attorneys for both would not comment on the exhibits. The defense teams petitioned the court to not disclose the evidence.
"This will show part of the full extent gabriel went through," said Amanda Nevarez, of the support group Gabriel's Justice, who come to every court hearing.
Added Lilia Ozuna, from Gabriel's Justice: "I did not know the family, but this case really affected me."
Among the exhibits were pictures of a still smiling Gabriel posing for a Mother's Day project.
His teacher reported his bruises, including BB gun pellets in his face.
Also in evidence were notes Gabriel wrote about wanting to take his own life, given to his social worker at the time.
"Gabriel didn't receive any support in our eyes when he was alive and after death he should," Nevarez said.
According to court documents, separate investigations by several agencies, looking into physical and even sexual abuse, were open for the family.
Yet Gabriel was never removed from the home.
It's a case that led to a new Office of Child Protection and other reforms in the Los Angeles County child welfare system.
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Four social workers were fired. One supervisor could be getting his job back after he appealed.
Trial is set to begin in the fall.
