CALIFORNIA: A profoundly distressing case has emerged in California where a 20-year-old mother, Maya Hernandez, is facing murder charges following the heatstroke death of one of her two young children. The woman is accused of prioritizing personal grooming over the safety of her children, resulting in the death of her one-year-old son.
According to the prosecution, the heart-wrenching incident occurred on June 29 in Bakersfield. Hernandez allegedly left her one-year-old son, Emilio Gutierrez, and her two-year-old son, Mateo, unattended inside her vehicle in a parking lot for approximately two and a half hours while she received a lip injection procedure at a med spa.
Reports indicate that although Hernandez’s treatment concluded in just 20 minutes, she remained inside the spa engaging in conversation, even refusing offers from staff and friends to look after the children. When she finally returned to the car, the outside temperature had peaked at $38^{\circ}C$ ($100^{\circ}F$), and police estimate the inside of the vehicle had soared to a lethal $46^{\circ}C$ ($115^{\circ}F$). Emilio was rushed to the hospital in an unconscious state but succumbed to the heat, while his brother Mateo survived.
The defense attorney argued it was a “tragic mistake,” claiming Hernandez left the air conditioner running and provided snacks. However, the prosecution countered, stating that the Toyota Corolla model automatically shuts off the air conditioning after one hour, effectively turning the vehicle into an oven. Maya Hernandez has pleaded guilty to manslaughter and child cruelty charges but has maintained a not guilty plea to the charge of second-degree murder.
