Yolo County Sheriff’s Deputies responded to a tip last week regarding a male and female living under the I-5 freeway overpass near County Road 19A, along with their newborn baby.
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Deputies immediately responded to the location, where they contacted 48-year-old Fernando Esparza, 29-year-old Melissa Rivera, and their 7-day-old baby. The family was located inside a makeshift tent directly beneath the freeway overpass.
The baby was removed from the immediate vicinity, assessed by AMR, and transported to Woodland Memorial Hospital for evaluation. The child was subsequently transported to a Sacramento County neonatal intensive care unit for further medical evaluation.
Yolo County Detectives responded to the scene and initiated an investigation into the child’s welfare. Child Welfare Services was also contacted and requested to respond.
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During the investigation, detectives documented hazardous living conditions, including numerous suspected methamphetamine smoking pipes, accumulated trash, rotten food, sleeping accommodations on the dirt floor without bedding, vomit on a mattress,and feces inside a baby carrier. Detectives also located the mother’s placenta and umbilical cord in a nearby garbage bag. The tent was positioned directly beneath I-5, where freeway traffic created extremely loud noise.
The parents acknowledged the dangers posed to their newborn and stated they had been waiting to take the child to the hospital for an examination at a later date.
Due to the immediate safety concerns, the child was placed into protective custody by law enforcement. Esparza and Rivera were arrested for child endangerment and booked into the Yolo County Jail.
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