A Bakersfield mother has been sentenced to 15 years in prison after her 1-year-old son died from heat exposure inside a car while she underwent a cosmetic procedure, authorities reported.
Maya Hernandez, 20, pleaded no contest to charges of involuntary manslaughter and child endangerment in connection with the death of her son, Amillio Gutierrez, last summer.
Prosecutors dropped a more serious murder charge as part of the plea agreement.
On June 29, 2025, Hernandez left her two young children — ages 1 and 2 — strapped in her vehicle outside a medical spa in Bakersfield.
She reportedly told investigators she left the air conditioning running, expecting the car to remain cool. However, the car’s system shut off automatically, allowing temperatures inside to rise to deadly levels.
By the time Hernandez returned approximately two and a half hours later, Amillio was unresponsive. Emergency responders pronounced him dead at a local hospital, where his body temperature was recorded at 107°F. His older brother survived the ordeal.
Court documents indicate that Hernandez had gone to the spa for a Brazilian butt lift, a procedure that requires significant time, during which the children were left unattended. During sentencing, the judge highlighted the tragic consequences of the mother’s decision and emphasized the lifelong impact of losing a child.
The case has drawn nationwide attention, raising awareness about the dangers of leaving children in vehicles, especially during warm weather. Experts note that interior car temperatures can rise rapidly, even on moderately warm days, posing fatal risks to young children.
Authorities continue to urge parents and caregivers to never leave children unattended in vehicles, even for a short period, and to educate others on the hazards of vehicular heatstroke.
Video Credit: KGET.com