Bakersfield, CA – A young California mother is facing the final stages of her trial after prosecutors accused her of making a devastating choice that led to her 1-year-old son’s death in a scorching hot car. The case, which has drawn public outrage and intense courtroom emotion, centers on whether her actions were a tragic mistake or a criminal act.
Prosecutors allege that 20-year-old Maya Hernandez left her two young sons inside her vehicle for more than two hours while she received a cosmetic lip filler procedure at a Bakersfield medical spa. On June 29, the outside temperature soared to 101 degrees, creating deadly conditions inside the car. Her younger child, 1-year-old Amillio, later died with a recorded body temperature of 107.2 degrees.
What Prosecutors Say Happened
During opening statements, Prosecutor Stephanie Taconi told jurors that Hernandez made deliberate choices that placed her children at extreme risk.
Taconi explained, “She chose vanity. She chose her appearance over her sons.”
Investigators say Hernandez was in constant communication with the med spa ahead of her appointment and was even told she could bring her children inside. Despite that, she allegedly opted to leave them in the vehicle while she went inside for her cosmetic service.
Witnesses at the spa described a heart-wrenching scene. Hernandez brought her “limp” and “purple” infant into the building while another bystander rushed to remove her 2-year-old from the vehicle. A nurse later said the older child looked as though he “was going to have a stroke.”
A Timeline the Prosecution Calls “Intentional”
As the jury reviewed the events of that day, prosecutors emphasized that the children were trapped in their car seats as temperatures climbed. They also presented text messages from people who had offered to watch the boys while Hernandez attended her appointment.
Taconi argued, “She chose to leave them in the car. She chose a break. She chose time to socialize with other adults. And again, that choice cost Amillio his life.”
Medical staff told the court that Amillio arrived at the hospital pale, unresponsive, and without a pulse, despite rapid emergency intervention. He was pronounced dead at 5:48 p.m.
What the Defense Says
Defense attorney Teryl Wakeman told jurors that the incident, while devastating, should not be treated as murder.
He said, “This is an incredibly sad case about a 20-year-old mother of two, a car, and a terrible, awful mistake. But it’s not about murder.”
The defense argues that Hernandez believed the vehicle would remain running with the air conditioning on. Wakeman said she left both boys with snacks, milk bottles, and even a phone so the older child could watch videos.
He acknowledged that Hernandez made harmful choices but insisted her client did not act with disregard worthy of a second-degree murder conviction.
The defense has already stated it will accept responsibility for manslaughter and child cruelty charges, but it plans to challenge the murder count, which carries a significantly harsher penalty.
What Comes Next
The case now moves forward with testimony and arguments that will determine whether this tragedy was a preventable accident or a criminal act. With both sides presenting sharply different narratives, the jury will ultimately decide Hernandez’s fate in a case that has sparked difficult questions about responsibility, intent, and the consequences of leaving children in vehicles during extreme heat.
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