Gabriel Fernandez’s story is not easy to read but it is necessary. This timeline was created with deep care and respect for Gabriel’s life, and it exists to provide a factual, compassionate account of the critical events that led to his death and the legal aftermath that followed.

This is not just a sequence of dates it is a reflection of missed opportunities, ignored cries for help, and a system that failed one of its most vulnerable children. Gabriel’s death in 2013 shocked the nation, but what followed revealed deeper problems in our child welfare and justice systems problems that still persist today.

This timeline is not meant to sensationalize. It is not designed to provoke grief for the sake of attention. Instead, it exists to hold institutions accountable, to educate the public, and to show how justice despite legal proceedings was not truly served.

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Content Warning:
This timeline includes references to child abuse, institutional failure, and death. If you are sensitive to or triggered by these topics, we encourage you to care for your well-being and refrain from reading further. Your mental and emotional health matters, and this content may be distressing.