A mother who once championed tougher DUI laws following the death of her two young sons in a 2012 camping accident now faces charges of involuntary manslaughter and child abuse. Her three-year-old daughter tragically died after being left in a locked vehicle in sweltering heat while the mother was severely intoxicated.
Sandra Hernandez-Cazares September 2024 mugshot
On a scorching Friday, September 6th, 2024, Sandra Hernandez-Cazares, 42, of Anaheim, was found passed out inside her vehicle, parked outside her apartment. Her toddler, Ily Ruiz, was discovered unresponsive. Outdoor temperatures had exceeded 104°F, and paramedics were unable to revive the little girl, who doctors believe had been deceased for several hours.
Hernandez-Cazares’ blood alcohol content was nearly four times the legal limit when she was taken to the hospital. Anaheim police officers also found empty alcohol bottles inside the vehicle. She now faces charges of involuntary manslaughter and child abuse resulting in great bodily injury, with a maximum potential sentence of 12 years in prison. She is currently held on $150,000 bail.
The tragedy unfolded on September 6, 2024, when family members began searching for Hernandez-Cazares after the staff of her five-year-old son, Lazarus Luiz’s, elementary school reported that no one came to pick him up from kindergarten. Relatives found the white Ford Expedition parked outside the family’s apartment, broke a window to access the vehicle, and discovered Hernandez-Cazares and her deceased daughter inside.
Lazarus and Ily Ruiz at her third birthday in July 2024 image – Juan Ruiz
This tragic event is a heartbreaking echo of the family’s earlier loss. In 2012, Hernandez-Cazares’ five-year-old and nine-year-old sons were killed by a drunk driver while they were sleeping in a tent at a South Dakota campground. Following their deaths, she and her husband, Juan Ruiz, lobbied for stronger DUI penalties in North Dakota.
Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer reflected on the unimaginable grief Hernandez-Cazares has faced, stating: “The pain of losing two sons to a drunk driver is something from which you never recover. Now, she faces the unbearable reality of losing a third child, this time because of her own actions. This tragedy serves as a sobering reminder of the ripple effects of grief and loss, and the devastating consequences of addiction.”
After learning of Ily’s death, Ruiz left his job in Texas to return to California, where he attended a hearing and was granted partial custody of their surviving son, Lazarus, who had been placed in the care of an aunt by Child Protective Services.
Juan Ruiz with his daughter Ily Elizabeth Ruiz Photo property of Juan Ruiz
Speaking through his grief, Ruiz expressed empathy for the mother of his children, urging the public not to vilify her. “Sandy was a good mom when she was okay,” Ruiz said in an interview. “She needs help, she would never do this on purpose. I don’t want people to hate her. Just leave the hate for me.”
As Hernandez-Cazares faces the legal consequences of the events that transpired, the family must now cope with the compounded grief of losing three children to alcohol-related tragedies—once as victims of another’s actions, and now as a result of Hernandez-Cazares’ own struggles. Her arraignment and bail review is scheduled for October 1, with her public defender declining to comment at this time.
A GOFUNDME has been set up for the family.
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