Ca. Mom Charged With Murder After Allegedly Leaving Toddler in Car For Hours With Heater On
Police have arrested the 34-year-old mother of a 2-year-old California girl who died late last month after being covered in a blanket and left for hours in a car with the heat turned up.
June Love Agosto was left alone in her mother’s car, with the windows rolled up, for five hours.
Authorities state the toddler died on Sept. 23 after being found unconscious in a vehicle that was parked in West Carson, California. She was rushed to a hospital, where efforts to revive her were unsuccessful.
Lacey Mazzarella, June’s mother, was taken into custody Wednesday evening on suspicion of murder. On Friday, she was charged with one count each of murder and child neglect resulting in death, according to a statement from the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office.
Mazzarella is being held on $1.15 million bail.
Mazzarella, who resides in Rancho Palos Verdes, allegedly told police that, at around 11 p.m. on September 21, she left June buckled into her car set, with a blanket over her legs, and the heat on, according to a police report.
She allegedly told police she’d been drinking with a friend in a vehicle parked next to hers. Mazzarella eventually said she fell asleep in the friend’s car, the report alleges.
RELATED: Calif. Girl, 2, Dies in Hot Car While Mom Allegedly Drank With Friend Nearby and Fell Asleep
According to police, Mazzarella said she woke up nearly five hours later. She opened the car door and noticed vomit on June’s clothing. June also sustained burns to her face, chest and arms.
Police allege that she removed June from the vehicle, placed her on the lawn, and sprayed her with a hose to try to cool her off.
The police report says EMTs noted the toddler’s body temperature at the scene was 107.5 degrees.
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An official cause of death is still pending.
The family has launched a GoFundMe campaign to raise money for June’s funeral.
