Local
Manslaughter Charged in Death of 3-Year-Old Left in Hot Visalia Car
A Visalia woman whose 3-year-old daughter died while left in a car during last week’s triple-digit heatwave faces child abuse and involuntary manslaughter charges.
The Tulare County District Attorney’s Office charged Eustajia Dominguez Mojica, 28, with those alleged crimes and many others on Monday.
Eustajia Dominguez Mojica (Tulare County Sheriff’s Office)
The child is believed to have been in the car, with its windows rolled up, for three hours while Mojica tended to an illegal marijuana grow, Visalia police said.
Visalia Police Seek More Information
“While we can all agree that the ultimate punishment cannot fit the tragedy that occurred here, California law draws a clear distinction between negligent acts and malice with regard to a possible charge of murder,” Tulare County DA Tim Ward said in a news release.
“The case will continue to be investigated and I strongly urge anyone with more information to contact the Visalia Police Department.”
Anonymous tips can be submitted at this link.
If convicted, Mojica faces up to 10 years in prison.
She also was charged with the special allegation of willful harm or injury resulting in death, conspiracy, two misdemeanor counts of child endangerment, misdemeanor possession of marijuana for sale, and misdemeanor planting, harvesting, or processing of marijuana.
Related Story: Man Paroled After Serving 26 Years in Visalia Beating Death
Others Charged in Child’s Death
In addition, Araceli Dominguez, 33, Emmanuel Ortiz-Aguilar, 34, Valentin Aguilar Ortiz, 27, and Victor Corona Flores, 41, face charges related to child endangerment and drug crimes arising from the child’s death.
Officials received a call for help in the 100 block of West Perez Avenue in Visalia shortly before 6 p.m. on Thursday. A Visalia police officer handling a nearby call quickly arrived and took over CPR efforts on the child, Jessica Campos. She was pronounced dead at Kaweah Health Medical Center.
Sgt. Mike Verissimo said that police found 70 mature marijuana plants, 80 immature marijuana plants, and about 475 pounds of processed marijuana outside the Perez Avenue property.
Related Story: Ex-Tulare Sheriff’s Sgt. Richard Ramirez Convicted of Felony Domestic ...
