EL SERENO, CA – A Los Angeles man will spend at least 15 years behind bars after pleading no contest to second-degree murder in the death of his 15-month-old son, who authorities say was grabbed, strangled, and violently shaken while left alone with his father.
Jose Juan Herrera, 38, entered his plea Thursday at a Los Angeles courtroom, bringing to a close a case that had haunted investigators since the toddler’s death approximately four and a half years ago. The boy, identified only as Gael, died after suffering a traumatic head injury that the medical examiner ruled a homicide caused by “inflicted trauma.”
The tragedy unfolded at an apartment in the 4600 block of Valley Boulevard in El Sereno, about one mile east of Soto Street. Herrera was alone with his son when the fatal injuries occurred.
Dr. Lawrence Nguyen, the Deputy Medical Examiner who performed the autopsy, concluded the child’s death was not accidental. Multiple bruises were observed on the toddler before his death, and records showed the boy had lost weight at his final pediatric visit.
Investigators discovered disturbing internet searches on Herrera’s phone, including queries about reducing murder charges and child endangerment liability. The searches suggested he knew the severity of what he had done.
The child’s mother, Noemi Medina, also faced legal consequences for her role in the tragedy. She had violated a custody order by allowing Herrera unsupervised access to their son. In November 2023, Medina pleaded no contest to felony child abuse and was sentenced to four years in prison.
Herrera was arrested in December 2022 and has remained incarcerated since. His trial had been scheduled for January 29, 2025, before he accepted the plea deal.
