Relatives of a 4-year-old Palmdale boy who was tortured and murdered by his parents in 2019 are poised to receive a $20 million payout to settle a wrongful death lawsuit that alleged Los Angeles County social workers ignored repeated reports of abuse.
Noah Cuatro’s great-grandmother, Evangelina Hernandez, filed the civil suit against the county in 2020 on behalf of the boy’s sister and two brothers. The suit has since been dismissed pending a settlement.
Earlier this month, the Los Angeles County Claims Board recommended that the Board of Supervisors approve the settlement, which is scheduled to be considered after Sept. 3.
”Noah Cuatro’s death was a profound tragedy, and no settlement can ever atone for his suffering or undo the loss his relatives have experienced,” Kathryn Barger, chair of the Board of Supervisors, said in a statement Friday, Aug. 29. “While I cannot comment on the details of the pending settlement, I remain committed to ensuring that Los Angeles County continues to strengthen protections for vulnerable children.”
The county Department of Children and Family Services, which employed the social workers who allowed Noah to stay in his home, said in a 2021 statement in response to media reports that Noah’s murder remains a source of “deep pain and mourning” for Los Angeles County residents and its child welfare community.
“Any time a child dies from suspected neglect or abuse, the Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services grieves,” the statement said. “DCFS honors the memory of each child by closely examining the complexities of the case and its protocols to identify systemic issues and by working closely with stakeholders to make impactful changes that enhance safety and service delivery.”
DCFS said it conducted its own internal investigation after Noah’s death, which showed that staff acted appropriately.
Pasadena-based Hathaway-Sycamores Child and Family Services, which is a mental health and welfare agency that contracts with DCFS, also was named as a defendant in the suit. The suit alleged that after DCFS sent Noah to Sycamores, staff members became aware or suspected he was being abused but failed to report it to authorities.
“Noah’s death was tragic, and we all mourn his passing,” Sycamores said in a statement. “Sycamores had no knowledge of any abuse impacting Noah. Sycamores was never allowed to see Noah after the court reunified him with his mother in November 2018. He died eight months after being returned home. The parties have resolved their differences, and the lawsuit has been dismissed.”
Noah’s parents, Jose Maria Cuatro Jr. and Ursula Elaine Juarez, pleaded no contest to murder and torture charges in 2024. Jose Cuatro was sentenced to 32 years to life in prison, and Juarez received a sentence of 22 years to life. The couple waived their rights to file an appeal.
Cuatro and Juarez reported that Noah had drowned in their Palmdale apartment complex pool in July 2019.
Then-Sheriff Alex Villanueva announced the following week that an investigation was underway into Noah’s death, adding that the boy’s three siblings were taken into protective custody.
Hernandez’s suit alleged that Noah’s murder occurred after at least a dozen calls were made to the DCFS and law enforcement from people who suspected he and his siblings were being abused.
DCFS frequently placed the children with Hernandez or foster families and then allowed them to go back to their parents. “At one point, a pediatrician filed a report with DCFS for malnutrition of Noah, and DCFS returned Noah to Ms. Hernandez,” the suit states. “However, after a short while, DCFS again returned Noah to his abusive parents.”
Sometime around May 2019, reports were made that Noah’s father had allegedly kicked him and his siblings while out in public. DCFS caseworkers also learned of allegations that Noah had been sexually abused, according to the suit.
A 26-page petition from a caseworker to remove Noah from his parents’ custody was granted by the courts but was “willfully ignored” by DCFS, the suit alleged.
City News Service contributed to this report.