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Sandra Hernandez-Cazares, a 42-year-old mother from Anaheim, has been charged with involuntary manslaughter and child abuse causing great bodily injury following the tragic death of her three-year-old daughter, Ily Ruiz, in a hot car. This heartbreaking incident occurred despite Sandra's past advocacy for stricter DUI laws, a cause she championed after losing her five-year-old and nine-year-old sons in a drunk driving accident a decade ago.
Last Friday, family members became concerned when Hernandez-Cazares failed to pick up her five-year-old son from school. Authorities later found her and Ily unconscious in a car outside her apartment. Despite efforts to revive Ily, she was pronounced dead at the scene, with medical officials determining that the child had been deceased for some time before discovery.
During the investigation, Anaheim police officers discovered empty alcohol bottles in the car, and Sandra's blood alcohol content was recorded at an alarming .30 upon her arrival at the hospital. This level of intoxication can lead to alcohol poisoning and loss of consciousness.
Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer reflected on the tragic circumstances, highlighting the heartbreaking ripple effects of grief following the loss of loved ones to drunk driving. He emphasized the irrevocable pain of losing children and the responsibility Sandra now faces for her own choices.
In a poignant tribute on GoFundMe, Ily's father's cousin remembered the little girl as a beautiful and innocent soul with a loving and bubbly personality. The family seeks to support Ily's father Juan and ease the immense burden of their grief during this challenging time.
Facing a potential sentence of up to 12 years in jail if convicted, Sandra Hernandez-Cazares is currently being held in custody on $150,000 bail. The community mourns the loss of little Ily and grapples with the tragedy that has unfolded, underscoring the devastating impact of impaired driving on families and communities alike.
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