Mom charged with murder after crashing car into canal and leaving daughter, 4, to drown inside
A mother has been charged with murder after she crashed her car into a canal and failed to rescue her four-year-old daughter, who was trapped inside.
Juliette Marie Acosta, 26, was originally hit with a DUI charge after crashing her vehicle into an irrigation canal near Hickman, California, on March 8, according to a press release from the Stanislaus County District Attorney’s Office.
Now, prosecutors have escalated the charges, accusing Acosta not only of driving under the influence but also of murder in connection with the tragic death of her daughter, Reagan Herrin.
Authorities allege that Acosta’s blood alcohol content was nearly three times the legal limit when she drove off the road and into the canal—and shockingly, they say she left the scene of the crash while her daughter was still inside the submerged car, per PEOPLE.
Adding to the chilling nature of the case, prosecutors claimed that when Reagan was later discovered still in the vehicle, Acosta was allegedly taking a bath.
That particular detail has sparked major backlash and disbelief, but Acosta’s defense team is adamant that it’s not true.
Her attorney, Gil Somera, called the bath allegation “false” and told The Independent: “Timeline-wise, it’s almost impossible to have done both of those. Time-wise, you can’t go take a bath while your daughter’s drowning if it’s in [a] canal, not next to a home…logically, it just doesn’t make sense.”
Despite the defense’s pushback, Acosta now faces multiple felony counts, in addition to the murder and DUI charges. Whether she has entered a plea is not yet confirmed.
The heart-wrenching incident has left a community in shock.
According to The Sacramento Bee, it was Reagan’s uncle, who lives nearby, that eventually pulled the young girl from the car. Tragically, she succumbed to her injuries and died at the hospital the following day.
“This is an incredibly tragic and devastating situation,” Somera told The Bee. “I remain confident that the truth will come to light. Reckless misinformation only serves to harm our community further.”
In the wake of Reagan’s death, loved ones have turned to GoFundMe to support her grieving father.
The fundraiser has so far raised more than $22,000, with messages of condolences and prayers flooding the donation page.
Part of the page reads: “The Herrin Family is overwhelmed with the support from the community and can’t begin to express their gratitude.
“Any remaining money that has been donated after expenses will be donated back to the community on Reagan’s behalf in hopes to prevent incidents like this from happening in the future. Thank you again for all your continued support and we pray that justice is served for Reagan.”
