Closing arguments began Tuesday in the murder case against a California mother accused of leaving her 1-year-old son inside a car while she visited a Bakersfield spa.
As CrimeOnline previously reported, Maya Hernandez is facing first-degree murder, willful cruelty, and involuntary manslaughter charges, in connection with the death of her son, Amillio Gutierrez.
On June 29, Hernandez went for a lip filler procedure at Always Beautiful Med Spa, leaving Amillio and his 2-year-old brother inside her Toyota Hybrid.
Hours later, she returned to her vehicle to find both children unresponsive.
On Monday, Hernandez took the stand in her own defense and claimed that the children ate fruit chips and bananas before heading to the spa.
According to Court TV, under questioning, she told her attorney, Assistant Public Defender Teryl Wakeman, that the children’s father had been incarcerated for domestic violence. She said 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]