A father in California is accused of leaving his 6-year-old son to die in a hot car during a heat wave. Officials say he is an illegal immigrant who was released on bail after a recent arrest, and they blame state sanctuary laws for the tragedy. 27-year-old Briant Reyes Estrada pleaded not guilty to murder and child abuse charges after his son died from heat-related injuries, per the New York Post.
Dan Dow, District Attorney said, “I am angry this boy died so unnecessarily. And I am even more incensed to learn this child’s death could have been prevented.”
The father is accused of leaving his son in a hot car at the Paso Robles Inn parking lot last Saturday when temperatures reached around 99 degrees. After some time, Reyes Estrada transported the boy to the hospital, but he was declared dead there. The father was apprehended and charged with murder and child harm. Officials revealed he was an illegal immigrant recently released from felony charges.
“An illegal alien arrested on felony charges walks free then — two weeks later — allegedly causes the death of his 6-year-old son, who was allowed to die in a parked car on a hot day,” said US Attorney Bill Essayli on X.
“ICE issued a detainer to deport this alien, but he was released from jail because of California’s sanctuary state laws. Had California allowed local law enforcement to honor the immigration detainer against this defendant, this child would be alive today,” he continued.
He was apprehended for multiple charges, including misdemeanor false impersonation, forging a driver’s license, and two counts of embezzlement related to an incident on April 29. At that time, he was transported to the San Luis Obispo County Jail, said Dow.
#Clique, what are your thoughts?









