TORRANCE (CNS) - A 34-year-old woman was behind bars today in lieu of $1 million bail on suspicion of murder in connection with the death of her 2- year-old daughter who she allegedly left in a car with the heat turned up for up to five hours in an unincorporated area near Torrance.
Lacey Mazzarella was arrested at approximately 8:20 p.m. Wednesday and booked at the sheriff's Carson Station, the Sheriff's Information Bureau reported.
Deputies responding to the 22400 block of South Vermont Avenue on Sept. 23 regarding an infant not breathing found June Love Augosto unresponsive, said Deputy Juanita Navarro-Suarez of the Sheriff's Information Bureau.
Mazzarella, who was at the location, was interviewed with several witnesses, Navarro-Suarez said.
June was later pronounced dead at an area hospital, according to the coroner's office.
Mazzarella told a sheriff's detective that around 11:30 p.m. on Sept. 22 , she placed Augosto in her car seat and turned up the heat in the car, which was parked near a residence in the 22400 block of South Vermont Avenue, ABC7 reported.
Mazzarella then allegedly left the 2-year-old inside the hot car and went to another vehicle, where she sat and drank alcohol with a friend. At some point, Mazzarella fell asleep, ABC7 reported.
Mazzarella is due in Compton Municipal Court this morning.