POSTED: Friday, June 3, 2011
UPDATED: 11:15 pm EDT June 3, 2011
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- Details of a troubled past are raising questions about why a 12-year-old Jacksonville boy is facing life in prison.Prosecutors said Cristian Fernandez beat his younger brother to death, but his defense attorney says the boy suffered years of physical and sexual abuse and there is much more to the story than people know.Channel 4 went to Fernandez's middle school and spoke with parents whose children attend school with Fernandez. "I was actually shocked and really sad," said parent Kathy Austin.As a mother of a child who goes to Kernan Middle School with Fernandez, Austin said her heart is heavy hearing that the boy could spend life in prison. Joe Golon's son also attends Kernan and said he thinks there are bigger problems with Fernandez."He's either mentally ill, or if something in the family is going on or something like that," said Golon.According to the state attorney Fernandez's family led a troubled life and moved to Jacksonville from Miami less than a year ago. Fernandez's fellow students told Channel 4 Friday night that they never heard of a disturbance with Fernandez before. "I know of other middle schools that have a lot more problems than this school," said parent Cheryl Womack."I think he should be given a chance to rehab. Because he's so young, they could still make a difference with him," said Austin.According to Fernandez's defense attorney, his biological father has never been part of the boys life, but his stepfather was. Lawyers said the stepfather was abusive and committed suicide in front of the children.
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