A Collin County jury has sentenced Vanessa Esquivel to 25 years in state prison for murder. The conviction follows the death of her 15-month-old child, who was left inside a vehicle in Frisco. Frisco is located approximately 12 miles south of Celina.
Esquivel, 28, of Dallas, was arrested in August 2025 after the incident. According to the Frisco Police Department, she arrived at her workplace in the 3200 block of Preston Road around 2 p.m. on the day in question. Police stated she intentionally left the toddler in the car.
The child remained in the vehicle for roughly two hours without air conditioning. Law enforcement reported that the temperature that day reached at least 95 degrees. The baby died as a result of the exposure.
Esquivel entered a plea of not guilty during the legal proceedings. A jury reviewed the evidence and returned a guilty verdict on June 18. Court records from Collin County confirm the murder conviction and the subsequent 25-year sentence.