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Heather Maxine Barron, 29, and her boyfriend, Kareem Ernesto Leiva, 32, were indicted on capital murder charges in Lancaster, California
They have pleaded not guilty to the torture and murder of her 10-year-old son Anthony Avalos
Boy died in hospital in June a day after being found unresponsive by paramedics
He was suffering from severe head injuries with cigarette burns all over his body
Prosecutors have said Anthony was severely tortured in the five or six days before he died

Published: 22:39 EDT, 31 October 2018 | Updated: 22:40 EDT, 31 October 2018

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A mother and her boyfriend have been indicted for the torture and murder of her 10-year-old son who was found severely beaten with cigarette burns all over his body.

Heather Maxine Barron, 29, and her boyfriend, Kareem Ernesto Leiva, 32, have both pleaded not guilty to Anthony Avalos' murder in Lancaster, California in June.

The couple are also accused of torturing Anthony, as well as two other children, in the days leading up to his death.

The grand jury indictment for the capital murder charges was unsealed on Wednesday in court.

Ten-year-old Anthony Avalos died in June in Lancaster, California after being found severely beaten with cigarette burns all over his body

Anthony was found unresponsive in the family's home on June 20 when his mother called 911 to say he had fallen down the stairs.

First responders found the little boy suffering from severe head injuries with cigarette burns all over his body.

Anthony died the following day in hospital when he was taken off life support.

Homicide detectives quickly deemed the boy's death suspicious and child protective services said there were signs he had been severely beaten and was malnourished.

Prosecutors have said Anthony was severely tortured in the five or six days before he died.

Court documents say he was whipped with a belt and cord, had hot sauce poured on his face and mouth and was held up by his feet and repeatedly dropped on his head.

Heather Maxine Barron, 29, and her boyfriend Kareem Ernesto Leiva, 32, have both pleaded not guilty to murdering the little boy

First responders found the little boy suffering from severe head injuries with cigarette burns all over his body. Anthony died the following day in hospital when he was taken off life support

It emerged after the boy's death that child protective services had received at least 16 calls alleging that Barron and Leiva were abusing Anthony and the other two children, aged between 11 months and 12 years old.

School administrators and family members, as well as a teacher and a counselor, had all called in to voice their concerns.

They reported that the children were allegedly being sexually abused, beaten, forced to fight one another and made to eat from the trash.

The callers also reported that the children were being denied food and water and were forced to crouch for hours.

A Los Angeles County Sheriff's spokesman revealed that child protective services had come to the house at least once for child abuse allegations involving one of Anthony's siblings.

Barron and Leiva are due to face court in Lancaster on November 27.