13.03.2026 01:01
A young mother who left her two small children in a parked car while she went to get lip fillers in the U.S. was sentenced to 15 years in prison after her 1-year-old baby died. The incident caused a significant uproar in the country, while the baby's father stated that the sentence was not sufficient and that justice had not been served.
A young mother who left her two small children in a hot car while she went to get lip fillers in the U.S. was sentenced to 15 years in prison for causing the death of her 1-year-old baby. The incident drew significant public outrage, and the father of the deceased baby stated that the sentence was not sufficient.
20-year-old Maya Hernandez was tried in court for the death of her 1-year-old son Amillio Gutierrez. In February, Hernandez accepted a plea deal for involuntary manslaughter in exchange for dropping the first-degree murder charge, and she was sentenced to a total of 15 years in prison at the sentencing hearing.
LEFT HER 2 CHILDREN IN THE CAR
According to court documents, the incident occurred on June 29, 2025, in Bakersfield, California. Hernandez left her 1-year-old Amillio and her 2-year-old son in the car, strapped into their child seats, when she went to a beauty salon to get lip fillers.
The children were left alone in the car for about two hours, and Amillio was found unresponsive when his mother returned. The little boy's body temperature reached 41 degrees Celsius, and he was taken to the hospital but could not be saved. It was reported that the body temperature of his 2-year-old brother in the car was 37 degrees Celsius.
STAYED IN THE HOT CAR FOR AT LEAST 1 HOUR
According to the investigation file, the children were left in a 2022 model hybrid vehicle. Hernandez told the police that she left the car's air conditioning on. However, it was determined that the automatic safety system of the vehicle shut off the engine about an hour later, meaning the children were left in the hot car for at least one hour.
On the day of the incident, it was reported that the temperature in the area was approximately 38 degrees Celsius (100 Fahrenheit).
Speaking after the court's decision, the baby's father stated that the 15-year prison sentence was not sufficient and argued that justice had not been fully served.