CA Toddler Dies After She Was Left In Hot Car, Mother Arrested

CALIFORNIA — A toddler died this week after she was left in a hot car for several hours while her mother was tending to a marijuana grow operation in Visalia, the Visalia Police Department said in a statement.

Officers and emergency crews were dispatched to the 100 block of West Perez Avenue at 5:47 p.m. on Thursday to assist a child who was not breathing. An officer who was on an unrelated call nearby arrived within seconds and took over CPR duties from family members who were trying to revive the toddler.

Shortly after, Jessica Campos, 3, was taken to a Kaweah Health Medical Center, where she was pronounced dead.

Detectives believe that Jessica was left inside the vehicle for two and a half to three hours before she was discovered. Outside temperatures reached at least 100 degrees while Jessica was in the car.

Statements obtained by investigators indicated that her mother, Eustajia Mojica Dominguez, was processing marijuana while her child was in the car, police said.

Investigators found four other children at the home — ages 15, 11, and two 9-month-old infants — who were turned over to Child Welfare Services, police said.

The department's narcotics unit and special enforcement unit assisted in the investigation. At the residence, police said 70 mature marijuana plants, 80 immature marijuana plants, and 475 pounds of processed marijuana were found.

The child's mother, Mojica, was booked on suspicion of involuntary manslaughter and child endangerment. Four other adults were also booked in connection with child endangerment: Araceli Mojica, Emmanuel Ortiz-Aguilar, Valentin Aguilar Ortiz, and Victor Flores Corona.

Drug charges are also being recommended to the Tulare County District Attorney's Office against all suspects.

Anyone with information related to this case was urged to contact Detctive Rob Meier at 559-713-4211 or detective Henry Martinez at 559-713-4156