""This sentence reflects an unthinkable betrayal by parents who are meant to protect their children from harm. Pearlene was denied the chance to grow up and become who she was meant to be. There is no punishment that can restore the loss of life.""
""They punished the victim by having her perform strenuous exercises in the hot sun and then beating her with a wooden plank and belt for several hours.""
""The cause of death stemmed from the combined effects of physical exertion, environmental heat exposure, blunt trauma and COVID-19 infection.""
Oriana Elias and Vincent Gibbs were sentenced to 22 years to life for the torture and murder of their 16-year-old daughter, Pearlene Valavala. The couple's actions stemmed from their anger over Pearlene's text messages to teenage boys. She was found dead in a makeshift bathroom, having suffered from physical exertion, heat exposure, blunt trauma, and COVID-19. The abuse was witnessed by her sisters, who were instructed to lie about the situation. The case highlights a severe betrayal of parental responsibility.
Read at Los Angeles Times
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