A 1-year-old boy died in California during his mother's cosmetic lip filler treatment, left waiting in a hot car outside.
Amillio Gutierrez, from Visalia, was found unresponsive with a body temperature of 107 degrees on Sunday and was later pronounced dead at Adventist Health after resuscitation efforts failed. His 2-year-old sibling, also left in the car, survived.
Their mother, Maya Hernandez, 20, has pleaded not guilty to involuntary manslaughter and child cruelty charges, KGET reported. According to Bakersfield police, Hernandez left her 2022 Toyota Corolla Hybrid running with the air conditioning on, but the car's automatic system shut the engine off after one hour in park. During the next 90 minutes the children remained in the car as Bakersfield temperatures reached 101 degrees.
Hernandez told police she left crackers, candy, milk, and a phone playing videos to keep the children occupied. She had previously been told she could bring her kids inside the spa, but chose instead to leave them in the car. When Hernandez returned to the car, Amillio was very flushed and then had a seizure.
"(Hernandez) admitted she knew that her actions were irresponsible and that she considered that when she was getting out of the car, but she intentionally left them in the vehicle regardless, placing the value of her appearance over the value of the safety and well-being of her children," an investigator wrote.
She remains in custody on more than $1 million bail and is due back in court next week.
