LA County couple charged with torture, murder of 4-year-old son
LOS ANGELES COUNTY, Calif. - An Antelope Valley couple could face life in prison after the Los Angeles County District Attorney's office charged them with the torture and death of a 4-year-old boy in December.
Andrew Havrella, the boy's father, and Lacie Fetters, Havrella's fiancé, have been charged in connection with the child's death, Nathan Hochman's office announced Friday. Fetters has been charged with the boy's murder. Both Havrella and Fetters have been charged with torturing the boy for months.
The boy died on Dec. 3, 2024. On that day, Fetters allegedly assaulted him, killing him, according to the DA's office.
"Any form of violence against children is reprehensible," Hochman said in a press release. "Our office will be their defender and will vigorously seek justice in this case."
SUGGESTED: Adoptive parents accused of torture, murder of 10-year-old SoCal boy
The child's death comes at least seven months after both Havrella and Fetters are accused of abusing and torturing the child "under circumstances likely to cause great bodily injury or death," the DA's office said. The alleged abuse went on from May to December 2024.
Havrella was scheduled to be arraigned on Friday. If convicted, he faces up to life in prison.
Fetters is scheduled to be arraigned on March 6. If convicted, she faces a maximum sentence of 25 years to life in state prison. She's being held on $3 million bail.