Tragic Loss: A Father's Plea for Mental Health Awareness After Daughter's Heatstroke Death

The heartbreaking story of a 3-year-old girl who tragically lost her life after being locked in a hot car has shaken the community. The grieving father, Juan Marcos Ruiz, has come forward to share his family's struggles and a desperate plea for greater mental health support.

A Devastating Tragedy Sparks a Call for Change

A Vibrant Life Cut Short

Ily Elizabeth Ruiz, a 3-year-old girl, was described by her father as a vibrant, loving child who enjoyed singing, coloring, and helping him cook. "She was my princess," Ruiz said, his voice trembling with emotion. "She loved everything princess." Tragically, Ily's life was cut short on a sweltering day in Anaheim, California, when she was locked in a hot car with her mother, Sandra Hernandez.

The Fateful Day

On that fateful Friday, temperatures outside the Ford Expedition reached a scorching 104 degrees. Hernandez, Ily's mother, had locked herself and the toddler inside the vehicle. When family members discovered them and called for help, it was too late. Ily had succumbed to heat stroke, while her mother was found disoriented but alive.

A Father's Heartbreak and Anger

Juan Marcos Ruiz, the grieving father, is struggling to come to terms with the devastating loss. "I'm hurt, I'm broken, I'm devastated," he said, tears streaming down his face. "I'm angry, I'm very angry. That's what I feel right now." Ruiz revealed that this was not the first tragedy his family had endured, as he had previously lost two sons in a drunk driving accident more than a decade ago.

A History of Mental Health Struggles

Ruiz shared that his partner, Sandra Hernandez, had been battling alcoholism and mental health issues since the loss of their sons. "Obviously, she suffered through depression because of the death of our first two boys," the father said. "Quite sure that after the birth of my little girl, she started post-partum depression. She was never diagnosed, but the symptoms were all there."

Unheeded Pleas for Help

Ruiz expressed that he had repeatedly voiced his concerns about Hernandez's mental well-being to her family, but his worries were often dismissed. "I desperately tried to tell everybody that she needed help, but nobody listened to me. Nobody took it seriously," he lamented.

A Mother's Struggle and Culpability

Despite the heartbreak, Ruiz acknowledged that Hernandez was a good mother, but her untreated mental health issues led to the devastating loss of Ily. "She'd never do this on purpose," he said. "It doesn't change the fact she did it. It doesn't change the fact that because of her negligence … it happened, and now my daughter is dead due to the actions of her mother. She's not a bad mom at all, she just needs help."

Seeking Justice and Raising Awareness

Hernandez has since been arrested and faces charges, including involuntary manslaughter and felony child neglect. Amid his grief, Ruiz is determined to use this tragedy to raise awareness about the importance of recognizing and addressing mental health concerns. "If you guys have loved ones or know someone that's suffering, get them the help they need because tragedy happens," he pleaded. "There's so many consequences and repercussions that could happen due to somebody's actions or no actions."