Documentary

The Trials of Gabriel Fernandez

DocumentaryCrime

Filmmaker Brian Knappenberger investigates the tragic death of an 8-year-old California boy who endured horrific abuse by his mother and her boyfriend, along with the fractured and complex systems that failed to protect him.

Year

2020

IMDb

8.1

Episodes

2

Trailer

Cast

Brian Knappenberger

Director

William Guirola

Isauro Aguirre

Wyatt Hinz

Carson (EMT

O.J. Simpson

Self

Phil Spector

Self

Alfredo Tavares

Eddie Lewis

Adam Saunders

Informant

Lonnie David Franklin Jr.

Self

Conrad Murray

Self

Rodrigo Alfonso

Arturo Martinez

David Alvarado

Arnold Jr.

Larry Mantle

Self - AirTalk Host

JJ

Johnny Jett Mercado

Gabriel Fernandez

AM

Albert Morales

Ct technician

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Comments

10 comments

Douce MarieSep 25, 2023

🔥 Vims 🤟Sep 25, 2023

Aj’s lounge & GrillsApr 28, 2023

I am so please that the police office in episode 5 told the brother non of it was his fault, those two kids are going to be traumatised for life now and will carry the weight of that little boys death on their shoulders, I hope he truly believes what the detective said I would have hugged him at the end and it's just a shame that even in that situation just a human thing to hug couldn't be done, due to fear of charges being bought.

DJ SbuApr 28, 2023

While I think it's important for people to know what happened to the kid, the pace of the show was incredibly slow. I mean, they repeated the same things over and over again, and you pretty much got the gist of what happened in the first episode. The same stuff is mentioned over the next five episodes, so it felt like they were just stretching it out to fill time. Honestly, I think they could have wrapped the whole thing up in just two parts instead of six. There was no new content, and it was just disappointing to watch.

Ruhi Arora JainApr 28, 2023

He was 3 days old when his "mother" David took him home and, along with his partner raised a happy, healthy child. Being taken away from these two loving men was the first crime against Gabriel. That made my heart ache. Gabriel's family honored their own homophobia before acknowledging that loving home for Gabriel. Beaten and called gay by the monster that killed him. That was so telling about why they didn't love Gabriel.

SarkodieApr 28, 2023

It seems like most people here are reacting to the sad subject matter instead of actually talking about the quality of the documentary itself. I too was moved and disgusted by the sad story... but honestly, by the end of episode 2 I pretty much knew everything I needed to. This seems like the latest in an annoying trend where EVERY documentary produced by Netflix, Amazon, or HBO has to be a series. This seems to be done not out of necessity, but because everyone wants to find the next Making A Murderer. The end result is a lot of unnecessary padding that waters down the interesting main story. By episode 4, we were talking about things that were only nebulously connected to the subject at hand. The production value is high, but that can't conceal the fact that it's just not a very good series.

Venita AkpofureApr 28, 2023

Once I started watching, there was no way I couldn't watch the whole thing in one sitting. I was up until 4:00 in the morning. I cannot get Gabriel and his horrible torture and abuse out of my head. It haunts me during my waking hours and wakes me when I sleep. The torture...the abuse...and knowing there are so many other innocent children being subjected RIGHT NOW to this very thing. It is just horrifying. When my adult daughter called yesterday, I told her I was exhaused that I had watched a show I couldn't stop watching until 4:00 in the morning. She wanted to know what it was about....I could barely get the words out. I don't want her to see it. I don't want any one to see it. Yet, we all need to see it. We all need to see this and all of its gruesome honesty. I hate the subject matter. I hated the show. There were times when tears were streaming down my face. I hate the perpetrators, oh my God, do I hate them. (Pearl's final statement was so sickening...she had no remorse, none, whatsoever.) But more, I hate the "system" and the realization that this happens over and over and over and over and over.... Having been a government worker, I know how the people who are at the top are there not to ensure that the people they serve are served well, but to meet metrics and to keep themselves looking good - especially in the human services departments. It is sickening. From this show, we see how everyone is protecting themselves. The only people that stood out and did the right thing was the teacher and the security officer - but their reports were for naught. No one, no one else stood up for this poor innocent child. It makes me want to say, if anyone sees a child who has been abused, take them, take them away, don't wait to turn them into social services or the authorities. Take them directly to the hospital and stay with them and never let their demon caretakers ever have them back. I know it isn't realistic. But seriously, from what I have seen, that seems to be the best alternative. The system would rather let a child be abused or die than let their parents' lose their rights as parents, rather than ensure the very basic rights of a child's safety. We must, we must!! figure out a way to stop this horrendous child abuse that is systemic in our society.

SAMO ZAEN سامو زينApr 28, 2023

The case is shocking, outrageous and devastating, but the storytelling was way too slow. Several times I got impatient because of that. They focused a lot about the feelings which was something I also didn't like it, I mean, I'm not a robot at all but the film tried so hard to be moved. Gabriel MRIP!

himanshu yadavApr 28, 2023

I cannot even fathom how those 2 monsters could do what they did to an innocent sweet loving boy. i never cry while watching documentaries like this but i've cried so much while watching this. what hurts the most was that the boy still loved his mom.

🔥Rachid Akhdim🔥Apr 28, 2023

These people are the lowest form of humanity. This is the reason the death penalty needs to exist. I've never been more disgusted by 2 people in all my life. Barely human. And LA should be ashamed. The mayor Eric garcetti is such an incompetent piece of trash he allows this corruption to fester to this day. He cares not about helping the people that need help, but more about his rich friends lining their pockets with blood money. Words fail me. This doc makes my blood boil on so many levels.