Closing arguments commenced Tuesday in the trial of a California mother accused of leaving her one-year-old son in a car while she visited a spa in Bakersfield.
As previously covered by CrimeOnline, Maya Hernandez is on trial for charges including first-degree murder, willful cruelty, and involuntary manslaughter, following the tragic death of her son, Amillio Gutierrez.
The incident occurred on June 29, when Hernandez went to Always Beautiful Med Spa for a lip filler procedure, leaving Amillio and his two-year-old brother unattended in her Toyota Hybrid.
Hours later, upon returning to her vehicle, she found both children unresponsive.
Hernandez testified in her own defense on Monday, stating that before heading to the spa, the children had eaten fruit chips and bananas.
During her testimony, Hernandez, questioned by her attorney, Assistant Public Defender Teryl Wakeman, revealed that the children’s father was incarcerated for domestic violence, and she was a single mother working as a certified nursing assistant at the time.
Hernandez said she breast-fed both children, who were born without medical complications, before returning to work full-time.
The court then heard Hernandez during a 911 call, in which she reportedly seemed panic-stricken as she attempted CPR on Amillio.
Deputy District Attorney Stephanie Taconi, however, questioned the defendant about declining to leave the children inside a child-friendly waiting room at the spa. The prosecution pointed out text messages between Hernandez and a spa employee, who told her the children could wait in the area while she had the procedure done.
Taconi also pointed out that she left her keys inside the car with the children inside, who could have choked on the keys. The car could have also been stolen.
Hernandez said she left the keys inside with the air conditioner on, believing the children were safe. The car, however, shuts off after an hour of inactivity.
The prosecution previously said Amilio had a 107.2 degrees when he arrived at an area hospital, where he was pronounced dead. The other child had a temperature of 99 degrees, but survived.
The defense is challenging the murder charge but will accept the manslaughter and cruelty to children charges.
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[Feature Photo: Amillio Gutierrez/Family Handout]
