VISALIA, CA (KMJ) — A three-year-old girl died Thursday evening after Visalia Police said she was left in a hot car, in temperatures around 100 degrees for 2.5-to-3 hours.
Officers said they were called to a neighborhood on W. Perez Ave., near Ferguson Ave. and Court St. just before 6:00 p.m. Thursday for a little girl in a car who was not breathing. Officers said they took over CPR from family members trying to revive Jessica Campos, and the three-year-old was rushed to a hospital, where she was later pronounced dead.
Officers with the Violent Crimes Unit said they got statements that led them to believe Jessica was left alone in the car for several hours. It was at least 100 degrees outside the car at the time. Detectives said witnesses told them Jessica’s mother, Eustajia Mojica Dominguez (28) , had been taking care of a marijuana farm and processing marijuana while Jessica was in the car. Dominguez was arrested.
Officers said they found 70 mature marijuana plants, 80 immature marijuana plants, and about 200 lbs. of processed marijuana inside a house where the car was parked in front of.
Police said four other children, aged 15, 11, and two nine-month-olds were at the house at the time. They are now in the care of Child Welfare Services.
Also arrested were Araceli Mojica (33), Emmanuel Ortiz-Aguilar (34), Valentin Aguilar Ortiz (27), and Victor Flores Corona (41); they face charges including involuntary manslaughter, child endangerment, and marijuana cultivation.
Anyone with information on the marijuana grow, or Jessica’s death is asked to call Visalia Police Detective Rob Meier (559) 713-4211 or Detective Henry Martinez at (559) 713-4156.
Click to listen to the report by KMJ’s Liz Kern
