Grandma banned from Noah Cuatro's funeral after allegations of child abuse against boys' parents
MISSION HILLS, Calif. (FOX 11) - A funeral is scheduled to be held Thursday for Noah Cuatro, the 4-year-old Palmdale boy whose parents claim he drowned but whose death is being investigated because of what authorities call trauma on the boy's body inconsistent with drowning.
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During a private viewing, civil rights activist Najee Ali will lead a silent protest at the funeral because Noah's parents have reportedly banned his great-grandmother, Eva Hernandez, from attending the funeral due to her allegations of child abuse.
On the afternoon of July 5, Noah's parents reported a near-drowning in their family pool in the 1200 block of East Avenue S, but the boy's injuries later raised suspicions about how he died.
No arrests have been made, but his parents are now under investigation.
The Department of Child and Family Services had an open case on Noah prior to his death that included an alleged history of physical abuse and neglect.
The boy's great-grandmother reportedly had custody of Noah for about two years while his mother was being investigated for physically abusing another one of her children. According to reports, when the mother completed a 30-day parenting class, Hernandez was forced to return Noah to his parents' custody.
Authorities said that Noah lived with his parents and three siblings. The sheriff's department said those siblings have been taken into protective custody.
The boy's body will be laid to rest at the San Fernando Mission Cemetery. A private viewing will take place from 9 to 10 a.m.; followed by a public viewing from 10 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. Services will be held from 1 to 2 p.m. in room BC.
This is the third death allegedly connected to DCFS in Antelope Valley. The deaths of 8-year-old Gabriel Fernandez of Palmdale in 2013 and 10-year-old Anthony Avalos of Lancaster in 2018 raised questions about the effectiveness of DFCS personnel and policies. Both children were found to have severe child abuse.
FOX 11' s Gina Silva contributed to this report.