A Collin County jury has convicted a 27-year-old Frisco woman of murder in the death of her 15-month-old son, resulting in a 25-year prison sentence. Vanessa Esquivel was found guilty on June 19 after entering a not guilty plea to a first-degree murder charge, according to court records. The conviction stems from the death of her child on August 16, 2025.
Police reports indicate Esquivel left the toddler inside a car parked outside the Hand & Stone Massage and Facial Spa, where she was employed, for over two hours. Investigators noted she was aware the vehicle’s air conditioning system was not functioning. Weather data for Frisco on that date showed temperatures reached at least 95 degrees.
Authorities stated Esquivel later transported the child to Medical City Plano after a stop at a McDonald’s restaurant. The toddler died with a core body temperature of 106 degrees.
An arrest affidavit reveals Esquivel initially told officers she had been driving with her son in a car with broken air conditioning and denied working that day. She claimed the child stayed with her the entire time. However, Frisco detectives, assisted by Plano police, reviewed employment records from the spa. These records showed she worked a shift from approximately 1:45 p.m. to 4:15 p.m. on the day of the incident, leading investigators to conclude she left the child alone while serving clients.
A recorded phone call with a coworker the following day became critical evidence. During the August 17 conversation, Esquivel allegedly admitted she left her son in the vehicle with the air conditioning running while working with two clients because she lacked childcare. She described her situation as being "between a rock and a hard place."
