Palmdale Parents Indicted for Death of 4-Year-Old Son

A couple has been indicted on murder charges in connection with the death of their 4-year-old son in Palmdale last summer, the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office announced today. 

A grand jury returned the indictment against Jose Maria Cuatro Jr. (dob 11/17/91) and Ursula Elaine Juarez (dob 2/9/94) on January 23 for one count each of murder and torture.

Cuatro also faces one count each of assault on a child causing death and sexual penetration with a child under the age of 10, while Juarez also faces one count of child abuse under circumstances likely to cause death. The indictment was unsealed today and supersedes case MA077318. Arraignment was continued until February 19 in Department 100 of the Foltz Criminal Justice Center. Deputy District Attorney Jon Hatami of the Family Violence Division, Complex Child Abuse Section, is prosecuting the case. Both defendants are accused of killing Noah Cuatro on July 5, 2019, at their Palmdale apartment. Jose Cuatro allegedly sexually assaulted his son on the same date. Over a four-month period beginning last April, the couple is accused of torturing the boy, according to the indictment. Bail is recommended at $4 million for Cuatro and $3 million for Juarez. If convicted as charged, Cuatro faces a possible maximum sentence of 47 years to life in state prison and Juarez could face up to 32 years to life in prison. Case BA484076 remains under investigation by the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. Jan. 28, 2020 About the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office Los Angeles County District Attorney Jackie Lacey leads the largest local prosecutorial office in the nation. Her staff of nearly 1,000 attorneys, 300 investigators and 800 support staff members is dedicated to protecting our community through the fair and ethical pursuit of justice and the safeguarding of crime victims' rights.