Los Angeles County is on the brink of approving a $20 million settlement in the case of Noah Cuatro, the 4-year-old Palmdale boy who was tortured and murdered by his parents in July 2019. As KTLA reported, the Board of Supervisors is expected to vote after September 3. Noah’s great-grandmother, Evangelina Hernandez, who brought the lawsuit on behalf of Noah's siblings, alleges that the Department of Children and Family Services failed to enforce a court order to remove the child from his parents' home, despite several abuse reports.
Supervisor Kathryn Barger has stated, "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," as per ABC7. The Los Angeles County Claims Board previously recommended the settlement this month, which would resolve the wrongful death lawsuit filed in 2020.
In the criminal proceedings of the case, Noah's parents, Jose Maria Cuatro Jr. and Ursula Elaine Juarez, entered no contest pleas to murder and torture charges in 2024. Jose Cuatro was handed a 32-year-to-life sentence while Juarez received 22 years to life, The Daily News shared, noting the couple has waived their right to appeal.
