North Texas mom charged with murder in baby's hot car death, officials say
The mother is accused of leaving her 15-month-old baby in a car without air conditioning for more than two hours, leading to the baby's death, police say.
FRISCO, Texas — A North Texas mother was arrested and charged with murder after she allegedly "intentionally" left her 15-month-old baby in a hot car without air conditioning for more than two hours, leading to the baby's death, police say.
Frisco police said in a news release that Plano police investigating a baby's death at Medical City Plano informed Frisco PD about the baby's death, which likely occurred on Aug. 16 in Frisco.
The baby's mother, identified as 27-year-old Vanessa Esquivel of Dallas, went to her work in the 3200 block of Preston Road at about 2 p.m. Aug. 16 and allegedly "intentionally left her 15-month-old child for over two hours in a vehicle she knew did not have working air conditioning," police say. The outside temperature was at least 95 degrees at the time, officials say.
Detectives obtained a warrant for Esquivel's arrest and she was arrested by the Dallas Police Department on a murder charge Aug. 20, police say. Esquivel has since been transferred to the Collin County Jail, where she remains held on a $250,000 bond, jail records show.
If convicted, Esquivel faces between five years and up to life in prison and a fine of up to $10,000, police say.
The news of Esquivel's arrest comes after a 36-year-old North Texas man was arrested and charged with Injury to a Child after a 6-month-old baby was found dead on Tuesday afternoon in a vehicle parked at Rockwall Heath High School.