Sandra Hernandez-Cazares, who had lost two children to drunk drivers, was discovered asleep in the driver’s seat with alcohol and her 3-year-old daughter trapped inside at 104 degrees.
Sandra Hernandez-Cazares, 42, has lost two children to a drunk driver. She must now accept that a third kid perished. Police say her drinking killed her 3-year-old daughter Ily Ruiz.
In addition, she faces charges of involuntary manslaughter and criminal child negligence for her daughter’s murder after police discovered them Friday inside her Ford Expedition with the doors locked and empty alcohol containers. The temperature was 104.
The Anaheim Police Department transported mother and daughter to the hospital, where Ily Ruiz was declared dead from probable heat stroke, according to KNBC.
Hernandez-Cazares was treated and sent to the Anaheim Police Department Detention Facility. Hernandez-Cazares’ great aunt told KNBC that the suspect locked herself and her daughter in the vehicle.
She said that Hernandez-Cazares’ second kid was at school and the family believed she was on her way to pick him up when the tragedy occurred. Hernandez’s relatives searched for her when the school reported no one had brought up her kid, KTLA said.
The publication said that the family located the woman’s car outside her apartment building. They also discovered Hernandez-Cazares and her daughter unconscious and confined inside. Ruiz’s relatives shattered windows to revive him.
KNBC reports that Anaheim police have ruled out Hernandez-Cazares’ murder-suicide attempt, but the investigation continues.
Hernandez-Cazares lost two children 12 years ago. A drunk driver murdered her nine- and five-year-old boys at a South Dakota campsite. The youngsters passed away after being hit while sleeping in a tent, according to KTLA.
The publication adds that Hernandez-Cazares’ then-husband Juan Ruiz advocated for harsher DUI sanctions in the local government after their deaths.
After his daughter passed away, Ruiz posted an emotional video on social media on Sunday, stating, “I wish I was making this up, but no, my daughter really is dead due to the negligence of her mother.”
Ruiz said he had conflicting feelings since he feels this was an accident but Hernandez-Cazares killed their daughter.
Sandy’s a terrific mom. She would never intentionally do this. Ruiz told The Daily Mail she would never abuse her child. “We already lost two babies.”
He said he never anticipated a girl after three sons. “I called her ILY,” meaning ‘I love you,'” he told the newspaper. She adored everything, Princesses. Frozen. She adored helping me cook.”
His ex-wife may have used alcohol to deal with sadness. “I told her family she needed help, but nobody listened,” he told The Daily Mail. Sandra’s not a horrible person, so I won’t criticize her. She needs aid.”
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In the same breath, he confessed anger. “It doesn’t change the face she did what she did, right?” stated. “I’m upset with her family for ignoring me. I’m outraged, but I’m trying to remain calm and say she wouldn’t do this on purpose.”
Ruiz expressed his inner turmoil, “I loathe her so much. I loathe and pity her. I loathe and pity her. I despise how my baby died.”
He said he’s “concerned for her well being in there,” meaning she’s in jail, “because I know how the prison works here in California.”
Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer stated, “Losing your 5- and 9-year-old boys to a drunk driver is an unthinkable tragedy. Anyone who has experienced such a catastrophe understands that pain may be masked, but losing your children is permanent.”
“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.”