A Michigan woman faced sentencing on Wednesday in connection with the tragic death of her young daughter last year.

In Grand Rapids, a judge handed down a sentence to 27-year-old Angelica Arechiga, consisting of 45 days in jail and two years of probation. This followed her earlier decision to plead no contest to a charge of child abuse resulting in death, as reported by ABC 13.

The unfortunate event occurred on October 9, 2024, in Grand Rapids. Arechiga left her 1-year-old daughter, Julieta Magdelena, inside a car while she entered the La Tienda store on South Division Avenue, as detailed by CrimeOnline.

A probable cause affidavit revealed, “Angelica left Juliet, an 18-month-old child, alone in a vehicle for 15 minutes without any restraints or adult supervision, creating an unreasonable risk of harm or injury, which led to her death.”

The toddler’s cause of death was determined to be asphyxia by wedging, with the death certificate classifying the manner of death as accidental.

Arechiga left her three children and a fourth child she had been babysitting in the vehicle while she went inside for about 15 minutes. When she returned, she opened the door and the toddler fell out, not breathing.

None of the children were secured in car seats, the report said.

“Even if you’re not intentionally going to harm your children, you must take special care to make sure that they not be harmed unless it is out of your control,” the judge said.

Arechiga will get one day of jail credit.

[Feature Photo: Julieta Magdelena/Ofield Funeral Home]