Charges against social workers over boy's death thrown out

A California state appeals court has thrown out criminal charges against four ex-Los Angeles County social workers over the 2013 torture-death of an 8-year-old boy. The court had ruled that the employees couldn't be held accountable for the 2013 death of Gabriel Fernandez from Palmdale. Prosecutors say the boy suffered horrendous abuse for months before his death. His mother is serving a life sentence and her boyfriend was given a death sentence. Prosecutors charged the social workers with child abuse, arguing their negligence led to his death. It's not clear whether prosecutors will challenge the appellate ruling.