My beautiful baby grandson died after his vain & selfish mum left him in sweltering car for 2 HOURS to get lips done

WHEN Katie Martinez found out her son’s girlfriend was pregnant she was worried that, at 17, they might be too young.

But excited to be a grandma she promised to help Rosendo Guiterrez and Maya Hernandez and never imagined the horrors that would lie in wait for her grandchild.

Hernandez’s son, Jessie*, was born in March 2023, followed by baby Amillio in June 2024. 

To Katie, Hernandez seemed to take to motherhood easily – she was calm, devoted and attentive.

But behind closed doors, tensions simmered and Katie was horrified when Guiterrez (known as RJ) was jailed for domestic violence. 

It was while he was behind bars that tragedy struck, and Katie discovered her grandson had died in the most horrific of circumstances.

One-year-old Amillio had been left strapped inside a sweltering car for more than two hours while Hernandez attended a cosmetic lip and bum filler appointment. 


By the time he was found, his tiny body’s temperature had soared to fatal levels.

In February this year, Hernandez was jailed for 15 years after being found guilty of child endangerment. 

A grieving Katie, who lives in California, says, “My beautiful grandson is dead because of that woman’s vanity.”

When Jessie arrived in 2023, Katie admits that initially her worries about the young parents disappeared.

Katie, 48, says, “As well as being a new mum, Maya was ambitious and had hopes of becoming a pilot in the Air Force.”

But gradually, Katie started to see a dark side to Hernandez. 

She admits, “When Jessie was six months old, I posted a sweet snap of him on Facebook. 

“But Maya was furious and ordered me to take it down immediately, it felt very controlling.”

Then Hernandez fell pregnant again and, in June 2024, baby Amillio arrived and the gran admits she was impressed by her daughter-in-law.

Katie says, “For four months, he cried non-stop due to colic, yet Maya never lost patience and bounced him gently until he settled down. 

“I’d constantly tell her what a good mum she was.”

But as time went on Katie began to notice a change in the mother of her grandchild.

Katie says, “Maya started getting lip fillers but would then complain about having no money.”

Then, in December 2024, everything blew up when Guiterrez was arrested after a row with Hernandez turned violent. 

With her son behind bars, Katie was keen to keep an eye on her grandsons but after a falling out between the two women, Hernandez ceased all contact. 

Katie says, “I messaged everyone I could think of, just begging them to contact Maya so I could see the kids. But nobody wanted to get involved.”

Then, four weeks later, Katie received the heartbreaking phone call from Guiterrez. 

Katie recalls, “RJ was hysterical and told me that Armillo had gone.

“I started screaming. It felt like I was in a nightmare. 
RJ said that Jessie was also in the hospital and they didn’t know if he’d survive.”

Desperate for answers, Katie went to the hospital and discovered that the boys had been found trapped in a hot car, while Hernandez had been getting fillers. 

Katie says, “I was horrified. 

“Jessie was taken into foster care and we couldn’t see him while the police investigated, and Amillio was in the funeral home. 

“Finally, I was able to go and see Amillio. I stroked his little fingers and dressed him in a tiny purple suit. 

“He looked as if he was sleeping. I told him we loved him and that I was so sorry.”

Amillio’s funeral was held two days later and Jessie was able to come with his social workers. 

She says, “I was so ecstatic to see Jessie and he helped ease some of the pain. He laid his favourite toy car beside his brother’s hand, before kissing his cheek.”

Guiterrez was allowed to join the service via Zoom from his prison cell while Hernandez listened via a phone call from another jail. 

Katie says, “I wanted them to be involved in the service as they were his parents.”

Eight months later, in February this year, Maya Hernandez, 20, stood accused of leaving both sons strapped inside her sweltering car outside a beauty clinic while she got bum and lip filler injections.

She told police she thought the air con would keep them safe, but the car had an automatic shut-off. 

Amillio’s temperature reached 107 degrees before they found him. He was taken to hospital, but he’d already succumbed to heatstroke. 

She’d left the helpless toddlers struggling alone for over two hours with the prosecution describing how Amillio had ‘burned from the inside out.’

Despite claiming ignorance about the risks involved during the trial, the jury found her guilty on two counts of child endangerment and she was sentenced to 15 years in prison. 

Katie says, “It isn’t enough. They were just babies locked inside while she walked away selfishly.”

Determined to raise awareness in Amillio’s name, she wants purple ribbons tied outside businesses reminding parents and caregivers to always check their vehicles before walking away and to be aware that it’s never OK to leave a child in a car alone.

She says, “No words can undo what happened, but maybe other lives could still be saved. Amillio was a bright, beautiful soul. 

“We will never stop loving him and never stop fighting to make sure this doesn’t happen again to other families.”

*Jessie’s name has been changed