Monterey County man sentenced to 10 years in prison for daughter's death

A 43-year-old Prunedale man was sentenced to 10 years in prison for the death of his daughter in 2023, Monterey County prosecutors announced.

Jermain Gonzalez entered a plea to one count of voluntary manslaughter and three counts of felony child abuse for the death of his 7-year-old daughter, Eliana Paloma, the Monterey County District Attorney's Office said in a statement Wednesday.

On March 20, 2023, California Highway Patrol officers found Eliana, who had autism and was nonverbal, running on southbound U.S. Highway 101. Her father, Gonzalez, did not report her missing until hours later, telling officers this was not the first time she had wandered away.

Before returning Eliana back to her father's care, the officers had told Gonzalez to install safety devices, even providing him with government funds to assist in security of his property.

However, Gonzalez failed to secure the property, leading to the death of Eliana on April 7, 2023. She was struck and killed by multiple cars after wandering onto the freeway where she was previously seen.

Officers later reported finding Gonzalez in his trailer, disoriented and smelling of alcohol, unaware his daughter had left.

According to investigators, Eliana's family and teachers said she was frequently unwashed and wearing dirty, ill-fitting clothes.

"Her teachers would clean her up and put her in their own children's old clothing. They would share their food with her. Resources were made available to the defendant over and over to assist with Eliana's clothing and hygiene needs. He failed to take advantage of those resources," the District Attorney's Office said.