Simi Valley Parents Charged For Death of Their Infant From Fentanyl Intoxication
VENTURA COUNTY, Calif. (KEYT) – George James Salas was charged this week with the murder of his 11-month-old daughter Ariya after she died from ingesting fentanyl while at their home in Simi Valley back in December.
Ariya's mother, Karina Lucia Yanes, faces one felony count of child abuse as well as the special allegation that the crime resulted in the death of her child, the crime involved great violence, and the victim was notably vulnerable added the Ventura County District Attorney's Office in a press release.
"An 11-month-old child lost her life because she was allegedly exposed to a lethal amount of this
synthetic drug," District Attorney Erik Nasarenko shared. "We have a duty as prosecutors to hold her
parents responsible for this completely avoidable and tragic death."
On Dec. 6, 2025, Ariya was left in the care of her 29-year-old father at their Talbert Avenue home while her mother went work shared local prosecutors.
Around 1:39 p.m. the same day, officers were sent to the 400 block of Talbert Avenue for a report of an unresponsive baby who was not breathing stated the Simi Valley Police Department.
Arriving officers immediately began performing CPR on the baby and she was transported to a local hospital where she was later pronounced dead noted the Simi Valley Police Department.
According to Simi Valley Police, an initial investigation resulted in the identification of multiple items inside the home that indicated the use of narcotics and a search warrant was issued for the home as part of the investigation into Ariya's death.
The search and further investigation led investigators to believe that the 11-month-old likely ingested fentanyl while in the bedroom where she was found shared the Simi Valley Police Department.
"Fentanyl is one of the deadliest drugs in America, and an 11-month-old is completely helpless
against it," Senior Deputy District Attorney Audry Nafziger explained.
On Dec. 8, 2025, an autopsy determined Ariya's cause of death was fentanyl intoxication and both her parents were arrested on suspicion of violating California Penal Code section 273a(a), willfully placing a child in a situation where they were likely to suffer great bodily injury or death detailed the local police department.
On Sep. 28, of this year, prosecutors charged George Salas with the second-degree murder of his daughter as well as charges of child abuse, possession of controlled substances, and possession of a smoking device explained the Ventura County District Attorney's Office.
Salas is also facing the special allegation that he already has a strike offense on his record noted prosecutors.
Both of their arraignments were continued to Oct. 26 and Salas remains in custody with bail set at $1,040,000 and Yanes is also still in custody with bail set at $50,000 stated the Ventura County District Attorney's Office.
Salas is next due in Ventura County Superior Court for a bail review hearing on Sep. 30 of this year added local prosecutors.
