A Collin County jury found a Dallas woman of murder after prosecutors said she left her 15-month-old child in a hot vehicle for more than two hours while working in Frisco.
Vanessa Esquivel, 27, was found guilty of murder for the death of her infant by a jury on June 22, 2026. After the trial, Judge Tom Nowak of the 366th District Court sentenced Esquivel to 25 years in prison.
According to authorities, the tragedy occurred in August 2025, outside Esquivel’s workplace in Frisco.
According to Frisco police, Esquivel left her 15-month-old child in a vehicle for more than two hours while she was at work. Investigators discovered that the vehicle did not have working air conditioning and was parked in temperatures of at least 95 degrees.
According to authorities, the conditions inside the vehicle proved deadly, and the youngster died from a core body temperature of more than 106 degrees.
Detectives discovered that Esquivel had clocked in for work while the toddler remained stuck inside the vehicle. Police also claimed she first tried to mislead investigators about what happened.
Esquivel was arrested on August 23, 2025, and has been in detention since.
The Collin County District Attorney’s Office prosecuted the case. Esquivel was represented by Lara Bracamonte Davila, a Rockwall attorney.
According to court documents, Esquivel has filed an appeal of her conviction and sentence.
Authorities continue to encourage parents and caregivers to always check the backseat before exiting a vehicle. Even on days when it may not appear to be exceptionally hot, temperatures inside a parked vehicle can quickly climb and become lethal in minutes, particularly for young children.
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