3-year-old girl dies in hot car in Orange County, mother booked for manslaughter, neglect
ANAHEIM, Calif. - The mother of a 3-year-old girl who died while in a locked car during a dangerous heat wave in Orange County has been booked on suspicion of involuntary manslaughter and child neglect.
According to the Anaheim Police Department, the toddler - identified as Ily Ruiz - and her mother were found in the 1300 block of Fashion Lane around 4:20 p.m. Friday after someone reported a medical emergency.
Ily Ruiz died after she was locked inside a car, with her mother, during a dangerous heat wave in Southern California. / GoFundMe
The girl was taken to a local hospital where she died. Her mother, Sandra Hernandez, 41, was also hospitalized. Hernandez was released from the hospital Monday and booked on suspicion of involuntary manslaughter and child neglect.
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Authorities are still working to determine how the mother and daughter got locked inside the car, but police said a family member had to smash a window to rescue the girl.
Police found multiple empty alcohol bottles in the vehicle, Anaheim police Sgt. Matt Sutter said.
It is unclear for how long the two were inside the car.
At that time, temperatures soared to around 104 degrees.
"It would have been a great deal hotter in the vehicle," said Anaheim police Sgt. Matt Sutter.
Ruiz was remembered as "a beautiful and innocent soul with a very loving and bubbly personality," according to a GoFundMe created by family to assist with the toddler's funeral and memorial.
The investigation is ongoing.
City News Service contributed to this report.