Heather Maxine Barron, 33, and Kareem Ernesto Leiva, 37, have been sentenced to life in prison without parole by a Los Angeles court for the torture and murder of Barron's son, Anthony Avalos, who was 10-years-old when he died. The couple were convicted of first-degree murder and torture, after it was revealed that Avalos had been tortured for almost a week, with the abuse involving hot sauce being poured into his mouth, slamming him onto the floor, whipping him with a belt, and denying him access to the bathroom. On June 20, 2018, he was found unresponsive at their Mojave Desert home, and died later in the hospital due to blunt force trauma to the head. Seventeen relatives and witnesses testified during Tuesday's emotional sentencing hearing, with many expressing how Barron's actions had destroyed those who loved him. During the hearing, Barron wept quietly as family members detailed the impact of her actions. Prosecutors argued that the boy had been tortured over several days before his death. County child welfare officials received around 12 reports of suspected child abuse about the boy from 2013 to 2016, and some of the reports of abuse during this time had been substantiated.