BAKERSFIELD, Calif.(KBAK/KBFX) — Jurors in the trial of Maya Hernandez, a Visalia mother accused of leaving her children in a car during a cosmetic procedure, have reached a partial verdict.
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The jury informed Judge Brehmer they were deadlocked on the second-degree murder charge, leading to a mistrial declaration for both that charge and involuntary manslaughter.
In a tense day of closing arguments, prosecutors and defense attorneys presented sharply contrasting narratives in the case of Maya Hernandez, the mother charged in the hot-car death of her one-year-old son, Amilio, and the alleged endangerment of his two-year-old brother, Mateo, as she attended a medical spa for a liquid BBL in Bakersfield. KBAK/KBFX
However, Hernandez was found guilty on two counts of child endangerment for her children, Amilio and Mateo.
The prosecution had urged jurors to hold Hernandez accountable for second-degree murder, arguing she acted with “conscious disregard” for her children’s lives by prioritizing a cosmetic procedure over their safety.
Hernandez’s defense countered that her actions were criminally negligent but lacked conscious disregard, stating, “No conscious disregard, then no second-degree murder.”
A Kern County jury was deadlocked on second-degree murder in the case of Maya Hernandez, the Visalia mother charged in the hot-car death of her one-year-old son, Amilio, and the endangerment of his two-year-old brother, Mateo, as she attended a medical spa for a liquid BBL in Bakersfield back in June of this year. She was found guilty on two counts of child endangerment. PHOTO: KBAK/KBFX
On June 29, 2025, Hernandez drove from Visalia to Bakersfield for a cosmetic procedure, leaving her 1-year-old son, Amilio, and 2-year-old son Mateo in the car with snacks, cartoons playing on her phone, and the air conditioning on.
However, witnesses testified that the air conditioning was not functioning when they found the children, and Hernandez did not appear urgent when they were discovered.
A Bakersfield Police Department recreation indicated the car’s air conditioning shut off after about an hour, leaving the children in temperatures over 100 degrees.
Hernandez was inside the spa for more than two and a half hours.
Witnesses said Hernandez did not inform anyone at the spa about her children being in the car, with one witness stating, “She didn’t tell people her kids were with her because she knew it was wrong.”
Surveillance footage showed Hernandez returning to her car after the procedure, where an employee found her holding Amilio and shaking him.
Hernandez claimed she was trying to get the air conditioning on for him.
In a tense day of closing arguments, prosecutors and defense attorneys presented sharply contrasting narratives in the case of Maya Hernandez, the mother charged in the hot-car death of her one-year-old son, Amilio, and the alleged endangerment of his two-year-old brother, Mateo, as she attended a medical spa for a liquid BBL in Bakersfield. KBAK/KBFX
Both children were lethargic when found, with Amilio showing no signs of life at the hospital.
Mateo survived due to his developed sweat glands, according to doctors.
A status hearing is set for Jan. 12 to determine if the second-degree murder and involuntary manslaughter charges will be retried.