BAKERSFIELD, CA (KUZZ) — Opening statements began Monday in the trial of a Visalia woman accused of murder after allegedly leaving her children inside a hot car in southwest Bakersfield.
Defense attorneys told the court they plan to concede to charges of manslaughter and child cruelty, but will contest a second-degree murder charge against Maya Hernandez, 20, after Amilio Gutierrez, 1, died from heat stroke when he and his two-year-old brother were reportedly left inside a Toyota while Hernandez underwent a lip-filler treatment at a medical spa on Real Road in June.
The outside temperature that day was in the triple digits, and prosecutors say Gutierrez’s body temperature reached 107 degrees. His brother survived.
Hernandez reportedly left the car running with the air conditioning on, but that model shuts off after an hour. Hernandez has pleaded not guilty.
Court resumes Tuesday.












