Mother of toddler found dead in hot car was drunk, passed out inside: police

A mother was arrested and charged after her 3-year-old daughter was found dead inside a hot car during a record-breaking heat wave in Southern California.

Sandra Hernandez-Cazares, 42, of Anaheim, was charged with one count of involuntary manslaughter and one count of child abuse causing great bodily injury, the Orange County District Attorney’s Office announced Tuesday.

On Sept. 6, family members began searching for Hernandez-Cazares after her son’s elementary school called to report that no one had picked up the 5-year-old boy.

Family members arrived at the woman’s Anaheim apartment on the 1300 block of Fashion Lane and spotted her Ford Expedition SUV parked outside. The woman and her daughter, Ily Ruiz, 3, were both found unconscious inside, authorities said.

Her family smashed in the SUV’s windows and attempted to resuscitate the toddler but she was pronounced dead. Doctors believe the child had been dead for several hours before she was discovered inside the locked car amid extreme temperatures.

The child’s preliminary cause of death was suspected to be complications from heat stroke,
though the official autopsy report is still pending, police said.

Anaheim Police said Hernandez-Cazares was drunk and passed out with a blood alcohol level of nearly four times the legal limit. Empty alcohol bottles were also reportedly found inside her car.

She was transported to the hospital for treatment before being taken into custody. Outdoor temperatures were over 104 degrees at the time, with temperatures inside the vehicle even higher, authorities said.

Hernandez-Cazares is also the mother of two boys — aged 5 and 9 — who were killed by a drunk driver who ran over them while they were sleeping in a tent at a South Dakota campground in 2012.

After the boys’ death, the woman and her husband, Juan Ruiz, had lobbied the local legislature for stronger penalties for driving under the influence.

“The unimaginable pain of having your 5-year-old and 9-year-old sons killed by a drunk driver is something from which you can never recover,” said O.C. District Attorney Todd Spitzer. “Anyone who has suffered such a devastating tragedy knows the ripple effects of grief may be able to be hidden, but the heartbreak of losing your children will never go away. A mother who was robbed of the chance to see two of her sons grow up because of the selfish decision of a stranger will have to live with the fact she will never get to see her little girl grow up because of the choices she made.”

Juan Ruiz, Ily’s father, took to social media on Sunday to mourn his daughter. ( Editor’s note: The video linked here contains strong language. )

“I wish I was making this up, but no, my daughter really is dead due to the negligence of her mother,” Ruiz said.

His family has set up a GoFundMe to assist with funeral and other costs.

Hernandez-Cazares is currently being held on $150,000 bail. She faces up to 12 years in prison if convicted on all charges.

The incident remains under investigation. Anyone with additional information can call 714-765-1900. Anonymous tips can be provided to OC Crime Stoppers at 1-855-847-6227 or online at occrimestoppers.org.

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