In a deeply tragic case out of Michigan, a mother has been sentenced following the death of her 18-month-old daughter, who suffocated while left unrestrained in a pickup truck. The incident, which occurred with three other children present in the vehicle, has resulted in the mother receiving a 45-day jail sentence along with a probation period.

Angelica Arechiga, 27, from Grand Rapids, expressed remorse in court, stating, “All I can do now is ensure that the rest of my children are okay and being taken care of,” as reported by local ABC affiliate WZZM. She acknowledged the gravity of her actions, saying, “Hopefully I can be there for them, but if not, I will have to face whatever consequences for being irresponsible.”

This case marks a significant legal precedent in Kent County, as Arechiga pleaded no contest in August to the charge of “child abuse: leaving a child in a vehicle resulting in death.” It is reportedly the first time such a charge has been applied in the area, highlighted by local NBC affiliate WOOD.

The presiding judge emphasized the difficulty in sentencing such cases but noted their importance in delivering a cautionary message to others. Alongside her jail time, Arechiga will also serve two years of probation.

“Even if harm to your children is not intentional, it’s imperative to exercise utmost care to protect them,” the judge advised, underscoring the need for vigilance in child safety.

Arechiga’s attorney remarked on the irreversible nature of the tragedy, stating that while nothing can change the past, Arechiga can focus on ensuring such an incident never occurs again by her future actions, as reported by WZZM.

Authorities accused Arechiga of leaving her daughter, Julieta Magdelena, unsupervised and “unrestrained” for 15 minutes in her pickup truck while it was parked in a grocery store parking lot near South Division Avenue and Hall Street. She was reportedly grabbing lunch for her husband.

“Angelica left Juliet, an 18-month-old child unattended in a vehicle for a period of 15 minutes unrestrained and with no adult supervision which posed an unreasonable risk of harm or injury to Juliet, causing her death,” Arechiga’s probable cause affidavit said, according to WOOD.

Magdelena’s death was listed as “asphyxiation via wedge” and the manner of death was reported as an accident, according to WZZM.

“Horrible things can happen when children are left alone in a vehicle for even a short period of time,” Kent County Prosecutor Chris Becker told WOOD. Witnesses who were inside the grocery store where Arechiga left her car parked said she came rushing inside in a panic after coming out to find her daughter unconscious.

“She just comes in screaming,” a worker recalled, asking WOOD to remain anonymous. “We were confused … (the toddler) had Cheetos dust on her hands so we were like, ‘Maybe she was (choking) on her chips?’ So my cousin started patting her on the back but when her mom was able to talk, she was like ‘No, no …. she got her head stuck … and she’s not breathing.’”

First responders reported that the toddler’s pulse was “faint” when they first arrived on the scene, according to WOOD. “It was the saddest thing,” the worker said. “When (the mom) said that (Juliet) was playing with her sister (in the truck), I thought the sisters were at least 6, 8 or 10 years old. But when they came out walking, they were like 4, 5, and there was a baby.”

WOOD spoke to Arechiga after her arrest about what happened to her daughter.

“I just want people to know that this was an accident,” Arechiga said while crying, per the report. “Yes, I could have done things differently that day. But I’ve learned from my mistakes. If I could go back in time to change things, I would, but I can’t.”

An online obituary for Magdelena describes the child as a “loving and sweet baby” who was a “daddy’s girl.”

“She was very smart and was already talking and practicing saying ‘thank you’ and ‘you’re welcome’ in Spanish,” the obituary says. “Julieta seemed to enjoy watching the world and taking in everything around her, silently watching and learning from everyone in her life.”