by Bakersfield, California – A 20-year-old mother has been convicted in the death of her 1-year-old son after leaving him and his toddler brother inside a hot car for more than two hours while she received cosmetic injections at a medical spa.
Maya Hernandez accepted a plea agreement Wednesday, pleading guilty to involuntary manslaughter in exchange for the dismissal of a first-degree murder charge. She faces a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison, with sentencing scheduled for March 5.
Children left in extreme heat
The incident occurred on June 29, when Bakersfield police officers responded to reports of two young children left unattended inside a vehicle parked near a medical spa.
Authorities said Hernandez left her children inside a Toyota Corolla Hybrid while she underwent lip and butt injections. Temperatures that day ranged between 99 and 101 degrees, conditions that can cause the interior of a car to reach life-threatening levels within minutes.
Police reported that the children were left in the vehicle for more than two hours.
While the 2-year-old boy survived and was later placed in protective custody, the younger child, identified as Amillio Guierrez, was pronounced dead.
Prosecutors criticize mother’s decisions
During court proceedings, prosecutors argued that Hernandez made a series of deliberate choices that led to the tragedy.
“Putting her vanity, her looks, her desire to feel beautiful above her children was wrong,” prosecutor Stephanie Taconi said. “Not only was it wrong, but it was criminal.”
According to prosecutors, spa staff told Hernandez that the children were welcome inside, but she declined. She also reportedly chose not to contact relatives for help because she did not want to “irritate” her sister.
“She chose to leave them in the car. She chose a break. She chose time to herself,” Taconi told the court. “And again, that choice cost Amillio his life.”
Defense cited vehicle feature
The defense argued that Hernandez did not intend to harm her children and believed the air conditioning would remain on because she left the engine running.
However, prosecutors noted that the hybrid vehicle had a safety feature that automatically shut off the engine after about an hour — something Hernandez reportedly did not realize.
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The defense also stated that the children were left with cookies and milk, and that the older child was given a phone to watch videos.
Child found unresponsive
Witnesses told investigators that when Hernandez returned to the car, she noticed her younger son appeared “off.” According to reports, she carried the child — described as “limp” and “purple” — back into the spa.
Medical staff later reported that Amillio arrived at the hospital unconscious, without a pulse, and with a body temperature of 107.2 degrees. Despite emergency efforts, he was pronounced dead.
The surviving 2-year-old was described as appearing severely distressed but ultimately remained in stable condition.
Sentencing ahead
Hernandez was originally charged with second-degree murder, involuntary manslaughter, child cruelty and child endangerment. Under the plea agreement, the murder charge was dropped.
She is expected to be sentenced March 5 and could receive up to 15 years behind bars.
As with all criminal cases, the defendant is presumed innocent until formally sentenced under the plea agreement.
Authorities continue to emphasize the dangers of leaving children unattended in vehicles, particularly during extreme heat.
Community members are invited to share thoughts on child safety awareness respectfully in the comments below.
