Family says final goodbyes to 1-year-old Amillio Gutierrez, who died in hot car

PORTERVILLE, Calif. (KFSN) -- Baby Amillio Gutierrez was laid to rest at the Hillcrest Cemetery in Porterville.

A baby blue casket, with blue and white flowers at the top, was surrounded by loved ones mourning the loss of Amillio, a young boy whose life tragically ended too soon.

"It's hard to speak when it feels like your heart has been taken out of your chest," expresses Amillio's paternal grandmother, Katie Martinez.

The one-year-old died in June after being left in a hot car for hours by his mother, 20-year-old Maya Hernandez, while she got a procedure at a medical spa in Bakersfield.

RELATED: Mother accused of intentionally leaving children in car for hours while she got cosmetic procedure

Amilio's two-year-old brother was also left in the car; he survived but has a long road to recovery.

"Don't leave your kids in a hot car, don't leave your kids in a car at all. Always watch them, love them. Don't take them for granted. From me and our family, please, don't take them for granted," urges Katie.

Dozens paid their respects to Baby Amillio.

Only missing were his parents. Both are behind bars.

His mother, facing charges for his death, and his father have been held on unrelated charges since January.

RELATED: Porterville mother accused of intentionally leaving children in hot car charged with murder

He watched his youngest son's funeral on Zoom.

"It's hard to take this in and believe it's true. All I can think of is the good memories I have with him, and remember that he was happy and he was a beautiful baby, and he is with God, you know," expresses Rosendo Gutierrez, Amillio's father.

Faith and community support are what the family is holding on to.

At the funeral, Amilio's loved ones shared that they had chosen to forgive his mother's deadly mistake.

But they have a message for young parents: never leave a child unattended, whether it be in a hot car or a home.

"Love your kids, we birthed these children, God gave us a gift of being able to have children and age is nothing when it's your child, age has nothing to do with it. So love your children, take care of your children. There are no excuses for these things happening over and over, and we see it happening throughout the world. There's no excuse for that," says Amillio's Aunt, Yadira Magana.

She urges any parent who is in need of help to reach out to their loved ones or their communities, as people would be willing to jump in.

The boy's mother is still in jail. She faces murder charges and is being held on a $1M bond.

She should be back in court later this week, on July 24.

For South Valley news updates, follow Kassandra Gutierrez on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.