A 26-year-old mum has been charged with murder after she allegedly left her four-year-old daughter, Reagan Herrin, in the backseat of a submerged car while she went home to take a bath.
On March 8 Juliette Marie Acosta, from Oakdale, California, allegedly crashed into an irrigation canal near Hickman, a small town east of Modesto. Acosta is alleged to have been driving with a blood alcohol levels of nearly three times the legal limit of .08%, when the fatal crash occurred, according to police.
Acosta was initially charged with driving under the influence, but prosecutors hit her with additional charges on Friday, April 11. Acosta faces felony charges including murder, vehicular manslaughter, driving under the influence of alcohol causing injury, permitting a child to suffer under circumstances likely to cause great bodily injury or death as well as resisting, delaying or obstructing a public officer, peace officer or emergency medical technician. If convicted on all charges, Acosta faces a maximum sentence of life in prison.
District Attorney Laugero said: “We recognize the significant interest the community has in this case. However, our responsibility to both the victim and the integrity of our legal system requires a thorough investigation based on the evidence and the law. This methodical approach ensures that justice is pursued based on accurate information. I appreciate the public’s patience and understanding in protecting the process and ensuring our ethical obligations are met. Justice requires our absolute adherence to these standards.”
He added: “I extend my sincere gratitude to the California Highway Patrol and all assisting agencies for their dedication and professionalism throughout this investigation. These agencies, alongside our Bureau of Investigation, committed substantial resources to establish the facts surrounding Reagan’s death, enabling us to move forward with appropriate criminal charges.”
Acosta is currently being held without bail. She was transported from San Francisco back to Stanislaus County by the California Highway Patrol. By law, Acosta has a right to a bail hearing during the course of the legal proceedings. Bail determinations are made by the court based on factors including public safety, flight risk, and the severity of charges, consistent with California law to ensure a defendant appears in court when required, according to the Stanislaus County District Attorney’s Office.
Acosta’s attorney Gil Somera denied that his client took a bath after the incident. “Timeline-wise, it’s almost impossible to have done both of those,” he insisted to the Independent. “Time-wise, you can’t go take a bath while your daughter’s drowning if it’s in her canal, not next to a home … logically, it just doesn’t make sense.”
Reagan’s uncle, who lives nearby, helped pull his niece from the Subaru when police arrived on the scene, officials told the Sacramento Bee. The tot was rushed to a local hospital, where she died the following day.
A GoFundMe page has been set up to help the Herrin family cover expenses, you can donate here.