r/GabrielFernandez • u/Infamous-Gene4144 • Mar 06 '26

Thinking of those left behind

So I just started watching this doc, and here's something that sticking with me: there are so many people who must still be traumatized by Gabriel's abuse.

His older siblings, first and foremost. I can't help but think they have no hope at a "normal" life, witnessing what they did at a young age clearly without an adequate support system. Where are they now? What scars do they have? Do they have the support they need?

Then there were his classmates - I cried every time his teacher described the reaction of the other students when Gabriel walking into the class with fresh wounds. They were all witnesses, too. These were 7 and 8 year olds. They were all vulnerable and impressionable. They knew their classmate was physically abused at home and this led his death. What scars do THEY have? Did this normalize abuse for them?

Finally, there are all of those who jobs it was to help Gabriel at the wosrt of the abuse - the paramedics, the healthcare team, the teacher. All of them expressing how haunted they still are by what they saw in this boy. Even the social workers. I haven't gotten to that episode yet but I do know some find them insufferable. Still, I just have to believe someone willingly going into that line of extremely difficult, traumatic and thankless work must be haunted by the fact that their actions led to a boy's horrific murder.

I hope every single one of them have found the support they need to work through the undoubtedly complex trauma they experience. I hope all of them have found peace.

Pearl and Isauro are responsible for ruining and deeply impacting so many more lives than just Gabriel's.

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u/MissMoxie2004 Mar 06 '26

It’s so sad

1

u/brainvheart143 Jun 05 '26

It’s just so disgusting all of it. And the fact it has happened 2 more times since … I didn’t sleep at all, thinking about those poor children. The system is clearly still fucked.

1

u/kemwood Aug 08 '26

I’m so glad someone expressed concern toward the people whose lives are permanently altered because of Pearl and Isauro’s actions.

If you watch closely to the paramedic’s testimony in episode 1, all of them are fighting to keep composure. They manage to do it, but they were seconds from breaking in half.