by Weslaco, Texas — A South Texas mother is facing additional criminal charges months after her 1-year-old child died in a tragic Halloween night incident involving a car seat strap while the infant was left alone inside a vehicle, according to law enforcement officials.
Ashley Jasmin Rivera, 26, has been taken back into custody and remains jailed at the Hidalgo County Jail as prosecutors move forward with new felony charges, including criminally negligent homicide and abandoning a child in a situation that posed imminent danger. The new counts were added after Rivera was previously charged with injury to a child causing death.
Jail records show Rivera is currently being held on a $60,000 bond while the investigation continues.
Emergency call led deputies to unresponsive child
According to the Hidalgo County Sheriff’s Office, deputies were dispatched shortly before 9 p.m. on Oct. 31 to the 8100 block of North FM 88 in rural Weslaco after receiving a report of an unresponsive infant.
When first responders arrived, they found a 1-year-old child who was not breathing. Paramedics immediately transported the infant to a nearby hospital, but despite life-saving efforts, doctors pronounced the child dead.
In a statement released by the sheriff’s office, investigators described a disturbing discovery inside the vehicle.
“The child’s car seat was found tipped forward behind the driver’s seat, with the car seat strap positioned around the child’s neck,” deputies said.
Child allegedly left alone while others went inside
Investigators said Rivera told deputies she had arrived at the location with her four children in a Ford Fusion. According to her statement, the 1-year-old had fallen asleep in the car seat.
Rivera allegedly decided to leave the infant inside the vehicle while she and the other three children went inside a nearby location. Authorities said the child was left unattended for approximately 20 to 30 minutes.
During that time, a witness reportedly checked the vehicle and discovered the child was unresponsive, prompting the emergency call to authorities.
Autopsy confirms cause of death
An autopsy conducted several days later determined the infant died from strangulation, according to law enforcement officials. Medical examiners concluded that the car seat strap became wrapped around the child’s neck after the seat tipped forward.
The death was ruled accidental in mechanism but criminal in nature due to the circumstances under which the child was left alone, investigators said.
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No additional physical injuries were reported, but officials emphasized that the child’s death was preventable.
New charges reflect expanded investigation
Initially, Rivera was charged with injury to a child causing death. However, as investigators reviewed witness statements, physical evidence, and medical findings, prosecutors determined additional charges were warranted.
Rivera is now accused of criminally negligent homicide, a charge that applies when a person fails to recognize a substantial and unjustifiable risk that results in death.
She also faces a charge of abandoning or endangering a child, based on allegations that she knowingly left the infant alone in a dangerous situation.
Law enforcement officials said the added charges reflect the seriousness of leaving a young child unattended in a vehicle, even for a short period of time.
Investigation still ongoing
Authorities have not released details about where Rivera and the other children were going when the infant was left behind, nor have they disclosed whether any additional factors contributed to the incident.
The sheriff’s office confirmed that the case remains under active investigation and that additional charges are still possible.
Officials have also not publicly commented on the status of Rivera’s remaining children or whether child protective services are involved.
Safety concerns highlighted by tragedy
The case has drawn renewed attention to the dangers of leaving infants alone in vehicles and the risks associated with car seats when not properly supervised.
Safety experts warn that infants can suffer positional asphyxia or become entangled in straps if a seat shifts position. Young children are unable to free themselves or call for help if something goes wrong.
Medical professionals stress that no amount of time is considered safe to leave a child unattended in a car, regardless of temperature or whether the child appears to be sleeping peacefully.
Legal road ahead
Rivera is expected to appear in court in the coming weeks as prosecutors pursue the expanded charges. If convicted, she could face significant prison time under Texas law.
No trial date has been announced.
Authorities said the case serves as a tragic reminder of the legal and moral responsibility caregivers have to protect children from foreseeable dangers.
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