An El Cajon couple accused of leaving their infant in a hot car sobbed as attorneys presented opening statements in court Wednesday.
Israel Soto and Jessica Quezada are accused of leaving their 4-month-old son in a hot car overnight two years ago.
Family members found the baby inside a hot car at an apartment complex on North Mollison Avenue on Saturday, July 27. Little Giovanni Soto was left in the car for 15 hours and found unresponsive. He died later that day.
According to investigators, the couple left Giovanni in the car overnight after returning home from shopping.
A medical examiner’s report later revealed the infant had a body temperature of 107 degrees at the time of his death.
Prosecution called the first witness Adelina Gomez, who lived in the same apartment as the accused couple.
The prosecution argued Baby Giovanni’s death could have been avoided had the parents not been so negligent.
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Quezada was smoking marijuana with her brother just six feet away from the car, prosecutors said.
Her defense attorney argued Quezada was overwhelmed and made a tragic mistake.
The couple three other children have up-to-date immunization records and they are well-fed and cared for, Soto’s defense attorney said.
Both Soto and Quezada face child endangerment charges and up to 12 years in prison if convicted. Quezada is also charged with the possession of methamphetamine.