Texas: Vanessa Esquivel found guilty of murder after leaving baby in hot car for hours

A mother whose baby died after being left in a car for at least two hours in 35C weather has learned her fate in court.

On August 16 last year, Vanessa Esquivel travelled to work in a car which she knew did not have air-conditioning, according to statement from the Texas’ Frisco Police Department.

The 27-year-old then left her 15-month-old inside the hot car for more than two hours in temperatures of at least 35C.

After work, she took her child to a hospital, where police were alerted to the baby’s death.

Fox4 reported that she stopped at McDonald’s before taking her baby to hospital.

Police alleged at the time that she had left her child in the car “intentionally” and it “resulted in the child’s death”.

Initially, the woman denied going to work; however, police learned that she worked a shift at a spa from 1.45pm to 4.15pm.

It is understood that she told a colleague on August 17 on the phone that she had to work because she was “between a rock and a hard place” and was unable to source childcare for her baby.

She told the colleague that her child had died and was quoted as saying “the incident was her fault” according to Fox4, and that she was anticipating her arrest, which happened on August 20.

On August 19, Esquivel was found guilty of murder by a jury and sentenced to 25 years in prison.

Lead prosecutor Ashleigh Woodall told People the crime should never happen.

“Children that small should never be left unattended in a car, especially in the summertime and especially in Texas,” she said.

“Every year this happens, and we hate it. Jury is sending a message.”