McKINNEY, Texas — A Collin County jury has found a Dallas woman guilty of murder after prosecutors said she left her 15-month-old child inside a hot vehicle for more than two hours while she worked at her job in Frisco.
On June 22, 2026, a jury convicted 27-year-old Vanessa Esquivel of murder in the death of her infant. Following the verdict, Judge Tom Nowak of the 366th District Court sentenced Esquivel to 25 years in prison.
According to investigators, the tragedy occurred in August 2025 outside Esquivel's workplace in Frisco.
Frisco police said Esquivel left her 15-month-old child inside a vehicle for more than two hours while she was at work. Investigators determined the vehicle did not have working air conditioning and was parked in temperatures that reached at least 95 degrees.
Authorities said the conditions inside the vehicle became deadly, and the child suffered a fatal core body temperature exceeding 106 degrees.
During the investigation, detectives determined Esquivel had clocked in for work while the child remained trapped inside the vehicle. Police also alleged she initially attempted to mislead investigators about what had occurred.
Esquivel was arrested on Aug. 23, 2025, and has remained in custody since her arrest.
The case was prosecuted by the Collin County District Attorney's Office. Esquivel was represented by Rockwall attorney Lara Bracamonte Davila.
Court records indicate Esquivel has filed an appeal of her conviction and sentence.
Authorities continue to remind parents and caregivers to always check the back seat before leaving a vehicle. Even on days that do not seem excessively hot, temperatures inside a parked vehicle can rise rapidly and become fatal within minutes, especially for young children.
