Did a Mom Abandon Her 1-Year-Old to Die in Hot Car Because She Was Getting Lip Filler Injections? By Nicole Acosta

A California mother accused of leaving her 1-year-old son to die in a hot car while allegedly getting a cosmetic procedure is on trial this week.

Maya Hernandez, 20, is charged with second-degree murder, involuntary manslaughter and child cruelty in connection with the death of Amillio Gutierrez, according to Court TV, KGET and KERO-TV.

Authorities allege Hernandez left Amillio and her other 2-year-old son strapped in their car seats for two hours in Bakersfield, Calif., on June 29, according to court documents previously obtained by KERO-TV. The air conditioner inside the car was reportedly set to 60 degrees before she left.

In that time, Hernandez allegedly went to a med spa to receive a lip filler injection, KGET reported, citing authorities. When she returned, the 1-year-old was found unresponsive. Amillio was pronounced dead after being hospitalized with a body temperature of 107 degrees. His brother survived.

Opening statements in Hernandez’s trial began on Monday, Dec. 8. Prosecutors argued that while the procedure Hernandez underwent only took 15 to 20 minutes, she stayed in the building for two hours and allegedly did not check on the children during that time, Court TV reported.

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According to court records obtained by KGET, investigators found that the car’s air conditioner automatically shuts off after running for more than an hour if it is not manually restarted.

Prior to her appointment, Hernandez messaged spa personnel asking if she could bring her children inside, receiving a response, “Sure if you don’t mind them waiting in the waiting room hun,” per court documents obtained by KERO-TV.

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KGET reported that Hernandez allegedly told police she received a response from the business but decided to leave the children in the car anyway.

In court, Hernandez’s defense attorney pushed back on the second-degree murder charge, according to Court TV.

A GoFundMe has since been created by the boy’s aunt, Savanah Gutierrez, seeking donations to help “bring our baby boy home and give him a proper funeral.” She added that the child’s father and her brother, “who is incarcerated, had to deliver the news to us, his family, that his baby boy was pronounced dead.”

“Amillio was loved by so many, and we are all heartbroken that we will never see his beautiful smile again,” the fundraiser continues. “His brother will no longer have car rides or be able to see his little precious baby brother again.”