Texas Mom Charged with Murder After Leaving Baby in Hot Car

Vanessa Esquivel, a 27-year-old mother from Texas, has been charged with murder after intentionally leaving her 15-month-old child in a car without air conditioning for over two hours during a heatwave, leading to the child's death. The incident occurred on August 16 in Frisco, Texas, where temperatures reached at least 95 degrees Fahrenheit. Authorities believe Esquivel's actions endangered the child, meeting the statutory requirements for murder, and she faces a first-degree felony charge carrying a potential sentence of five years to life in prison and a fine up to $10,000. Esquivel was arrested on August 20, and her bond was set at $250,000. The Texas Department of State Health Services recently warned about the dangers of leaving children in hot cars following multiple heatstroke deaths in the state this year. Experts emphasize that vehicle temperatures can rise rapidly, making it deadly to leave children or pets unattended in cars under such conditions.