Fifteen years ago March 14, 2011, a baby-faced 12-year-old beat his toddler half brother so severely that he spent two days on life support before dying.
Standing barely 5 feet tall, Cristian Fernandez would soon become the youngest person in Jacksonville history charged with first-degree murder. For the nest two years, images of a child shackled and handcuffed in an orange jail jumpsuit and media coverage chronicled the case.
It became of national and international interest.
His mother, who gave birth to him at 12 years old herself, also faced charges. Fernandez additionally was charged with sexual battery of another sibling. The young family had already endured a rough lifetime, including Fernandez’s stepfather killing himself after an incident with him and his half sister.
Cristian Fernandez, 12, rests his chin on the courtroom bench as the other prisoners arrive for hearings. He was arraigned in first court appearance in the death of his 2 year-old half brother in front of Judge Del Wallace on June 4, 2011, in Jacksonville.
The case also involved several judges and high-powered attorneys for both sides. Years later one of those defense lawyers, Melissa Nelson, would defeat the controversial state attorney at the time who was scrutinized for potentially overcharging the boy — Angela Corey.
In the end, both sides would negotiate a plea to lesser charges to allow Fernandez to be sentenced under juvenile sanctions. He is free today at 27 years old, and mother Biannela Susana also avoided a prison sentence and is 40 years old. Their most recent court records in Duval County showed them still living in Jacksonville in 2022.
Here is their story.
Cristian Fernandez TimelineRevisiting the case of 12-year-old Cristian Fernandez, here are photos
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A March 14, 2011, homicide investigation became much more after authorities charged the victim’s half brother, 12-year-old Cristian Fernandez, with first-degree murder. The story has sparked debate about the criminal justice system and how it treats juveniles charged with horrific crimes. Some argue Cristian is too young to be punished so severely and is the product of a broken system; others say he has proven to be a danger to society, particularly if found guilty of murdering David Galarraga. The boys’ mother has also been charged in the case and gave up her parental rights. Galarraga has yet to be buried.
2011
January – Toddler David Galarraga’s leg is broken; mother says it was a jungle gym accident.
March 14 – David, 2, is beaten by his half brother and not taken for treatment for several hours. His mother Biannela Susana says he fell.
March 16 – David dies from a fractured skull and bleeding brain.
David Galarraga, 2, died following a beating in 2011 by his half brother, Cristian Fernandez, the youngest person charged as an adult with first-degree murder in Jacksonville history at the age of 12. Cristian pleaded guilty as a juvenile to manslaughter and aggravated battery.
April 1 – Mother is charged with aggravated manslaughter by culpable negligence.
June 1 – Cristian Fernandez is indicted and charged as an adult with first-degree murder and aggravated cild abuse.
2012
Jan. 5 – Fernandez is charged with sexual battery of another younger half brother.
Feb. 1 – Public Defender Matt Shirk withdraws from case as a new team of private attorneys take over Fernandez’s defense.
March 28 – Susana pleads guilty to aggravated child manslaughter for waiting to take David to the hospital; faces minimum 13 years when sentenced after Fernandez’s case is resolved.
Biannela Susana at a hearing in Jacksonville. She is the mother of 12-year-old Cristian Fernandez. The two are charged in the death of her other son.
Aug. 7 – Judge tosses out interrogations of Fernandez, ruling he didn’t comprehend his Miranda rights or implications of waiving them.
Nov. 8 – State Attorney’s Office drops sexual battery case against Fernandez for lack of evidence or witnesses in 5-year-old’s abuse.
2013
Feb. 8 – Fernandez pleads guilty to manslaughter, aggravated battery of David; can be released from Department of Juvenile Justice on 19th birthday in January 2018.
Aug. 14 – Susana is sentenced to 10 years in prison but credited with time served and suspended the rest to probation.
2018
Jan. 15 – Fernandez is released and begins serving eight years of probation.
2023
May 23 – His probation termination is granted early.
This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: A timeline of 12-year-old Cristian Fernandez’s case in Jacksonville