A California mom is facing manslaughter charges after an unfortunate incident. Maya Hernandez from Porterville, California, left her two children alone in her car while she got a cosmetic procedure. While she initially believed she left her sons safely in the car, the temperature rose over time. The boys were trapped in the hot car for over an hour, and one of them died. There is a possibility that she will find herself in prison as a result. She is expected to be in court soon.
According to Bakersfield Police, 20-year-old Maya Hernandez, left her two sons, 1-year-old Amillio Gutierrez, and his 2-year-old brother, in her car on June 29, 2025, KFSN reported. The 2-year-old boy survived, but Amillio sadly died after having a body temperature of 107 degrees.
“They were strapped in their car seats. They couldn’t even get up to save themselves,” the boys’ grandmother, Kate Martinez, told the outlet. “She literally locked them in their car seats and shut their doors.”
According to arrest records, Hernandez told police that she left the car running with the air conditioner on. However, when police arrived, they found the car was warm. They later learned that the car, a Toyota Corolla hybrid, automatically shuts off after an hour.
Hernandez was getting a lip filler procedure at the Always Beautiful Med Spa, KGET reported. According to reports, the mom of two didn’t check on her sons for two hours. She had asked if she could bring her sons to her appointment and a med spa worker told her they could wait in the waiting room.
At 4:30 p.m., Hernandez found her younger child having a seizure, foaming at the mouth, and shaking. He was immediately rushed to the hospital. A customer took the 2-year-old boy to the bathroom, pouring cold water on his body. He is now in the care of Child Protective Services.
Hernandez’s car was parked in a space facing west during the hottest part of the day. Reports said it was 101 degrees that day, but the internal temperature of a car could go up to 143 degrees, according to KGET.
“She wasn’t like that. She was a really loving mom,” Martinez told ABC 7. “Those boys loved her. They really loved her and they relied on her.” The grandmother has started a GoFundMe to raise funds for her grandson’s funeral.
Maya Hernandez has been arraigned on charges of involuntary manslaughter and child cruelty. She is held on a bond of more than $1 million.
