A California mother has pleaded not guilty to involuntary manslaughter and two counts of willful cruelty to a child after her 1-year-old son died when she left him and his older brother in a hot car while getting a cosmetic procedure. Maya Hernandez, 20, was arraigned on July 1 in connection with the tragic June 29 incident outside a Bakersfield medical spa.
Authorities say she left her two young children, 1-year-old Amillio Gutierrez and his 2-year-old brother, strapped in their car seats for more than two hours as outside temperatures soared past 100 degrees Fahrenheit. According to investigators, Hernandez had left the car running with the air conditioning on, but the vehicle’s automatic shut-off feature disabled the engine after roughly one hour.
As a result, the children were left in stifling heat for at least 90 minutes without ventilation. “They were strapped in their car seats. They couldn’t even get up to save themselves,” said the boys’ grandmother, Katie Martinez. “She literally locked them in their car seats and shut their doors.”
ABC 7 reported that a nurse at the Always Beautiful Med Spa said Hernandez had inquired about bringing her children inside prior to her appointment, but did not mention they were with her when she arrived. Her lip filler procedure reportedly lasted about 15 to 20 minutes. Court documents indicate that by the time Hernandez emerged from the spa, one of the boys was foaming at the mouth and suffering from a seizure.
She attempted CPR and called emergency services. First responders arrived to find both children unresponsive. Amillio was pronounced dead at the hospital. The 2-year-old survived and was placed into protective custody. Hernandez was arrested at the scene.
This heartbreaking case adds to a troubling national statistic. According to Kids and Car Safety, more than 1,000 children have died in hot cars in the U.S. since 1990, with approximately 40 deaths annually. So far in 2025, 12 children have died in hot cars nationwide, including two in California.
Hernandez’s bail has been set at over $1 million. She is scheduled to return to court on Friday, July 11. The boys’ father, who is currently incarcerated on unrelated charges, was informed of the tragedy by a jail chaplain the following day.
A community vigil was held Saturday at a Bakersfield park in memory of Amillio. “She wasn’t like that,” Martinez said of her daughter. “She was a really loving mom. Those boys loved her. They really loved her and they relied on her.”
