Children and Family Services suggest homophobia played a role in death of 10 year old

"Anthony’s mother, Heather Maxine Barron, 28, was charged with one count of murder and one count of torture for his death. She also faces one count of child abuse.Her bail was set to $2 million."



"Her boyfriend, Kareem Leiva, 32, was also arrested and charged in Anthony’s murder and torture last week Wednesday. He faces an additional count of assault on a child causing death with his bail set to $2 million. Neither has entered a plea."



Officials with the county’s Department of Children and Family Services, which investigated 13 prior allegations of child abuse at the boy’s residence between February 2013 and April 2016, initially suggested homophobia may have played a role in Anthony’s death, according to the LA Times.

However, Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Capt. Chris Bergner told reporters that homophobia, “has not come up in our investigation as motivation at this time."

Sheriff McDonnell added: “We wouldn’t discuss motive at this point [in the investigation]. Too early.”

https://people.com/crime/california-boy-who-came-out-gay-allegedly-tortured/amp/