Mexicali mother detained after two-year-old dies from acid ingestion

A two-year-old boy has died in Mexicali, Baja California, after accidentally ingesting an acidic substance used for cleaning air conditioning equipment. The child was hospitalized at the Hospital General de Mexicali on October 19 and passed away on October 21. According to the Forensic Medical Service (Semefo), the cause of death was brain edema and the ingestion of caustic substances.

The child's mother, Miriam Angélica 'N', was arrested on October 21 and placed at the disposal of the Baja California State Attorney General's Office. Police located her in a residence identified by neighbors as a drug consumption site.

The boy's stepfather, Jesús Antonio 'N', was initially detained for alleged neglect, but a judge ruled his detention illegal and ordered his immediate release. Prosecutors stated the child had been under the care of the mother's partner at the time of the incident. Authorities are investigating how the child accessed the acid and the circumstances surrounding the mother's absence during the event.