Crime Stories with Nancy Grace

Episode: 30 Years for Pervert 'Prophet' Pediatrician Convicted of Sex Abusing Young Patients | Crime Alert 6AM 12.19.25
Date: December 19, 2025
Host: Nancy Grace (segment includes reporting from Sydney Sumner and others)
Podcast: iHeartPodcasts and CrimeOnline

Overview

In this Crime Alert episode, Nancy Grace and her CrimeOnline team cover two harrowing cases: the conviction of Maryland pediatrician Ernesto Cesar Torres for decades-long sexual abuse of young patients, and the ongoing trial of a California mother, Maya Hernandez, accused of leaving her children in a hot car to get a cosmetic procedure—leading to tragic consequences. The episode focuses on the victims, the pursuit of justice, and shocking details from the cases.

Case 1: Dr. Ernesto Cesar Torres—Serial Abuse by a Trusted Pediatrician

(Segment begins at 01:14)

Key Discussion Points & Insights

• Breaking the Case:

  • A former Maryland pediatrician, Ernesto Cesar Torres, age 74, is sentenced to 30 years for the sexual abuse of a minor, plus three counts of third-degree sex offense (01:14–01:46).
  • The investigation began with a report from the mother of an 11-year-old girl who described being molested during a pediatric exam for a mild skin condition.

• Scope of Abuse:

  • Initially charged with 97 criminal counts, Torres was linked to at least 24 young female victims—his abuse reportedly spans from 1980 to 2018 (01:46–02:52).

• Torres’ Defense and Court Behavior:

  • Claimed in court that he was a "prophet in a previous life" and that “demonic entities” possessed the victims, compelling them to lie about their abuse (03:03–03:39).
  • Made no admission of guilt and blamed the victims, further compounding their trauma.

• Systemic Failures and Parental Betrayal:

  • Some parents believed Torres was performing innocent abdominal surveys, unaware he was committing abuse “right in front of the mother” (02:52–03:03).

• Victim Impact:

  • MH, a key victim, addressed the court: "I now can't trust male authority, but my childhood was taken away from me" (03:51).

• Ongoing Prosecution:

  • Prosecutors are seeking to try Torres on additional counts to ensure he “will spend the rest of his life behind bars” and are pushing for consecutive sentences (04:09).

Notable Quotes and Moments

• On parental trust betrayed:

  • Prosecutor: "Some of the parents said that they thought that he was doing an abdominal survey. Meanwhile, he had his hand down her pants and was committing a sex offense right in front of the mother." (02:52)

• On Torres' refusal to accept responsibility:

  • Prosecutor: "He blamed the victims. He did not take responsibility for his actions, which I thought was just egregious. ... to traumatize this young girl again by saying she's possessed by demons?" (03:39)

• Victim’s statement to the court:

  • MH: "I now can't trust male authority, but my childhood was taken away from me." (03:51)

• Prosecutor’s commitment:

  • "We're looking forward to prosecuting the other cases, getting consecutive sentences so that the number of years that he has to serve are going to be far longer than the number of days he has on this earth." (04:09)

Case 2: California Mother on Trial in Hot Car Death

(Segment begins at 06:01)

Key Discussion Points & Insights

• Case Details:

  • Maya Hernandez, age 20, left her two young sons (ages 1 and 2) strapped in a car outside a Bakersfield med spa for over two hours while she received lip fillers. Her youngest, Emilio, died; his older brother survived (06:01–06:33).

• Trial Status:

  • Kern County jury convicted Hernandez on two counts of child endangerment. The jury deadlocked on the second-degree murder and involuntary manslaughter charges, leading to a mistrial on those counts (06:01–06:33).

• Witness and Family Reaction:

  • Emilio's grandmother, Katie Martinez, is heard heartbroken:

    "I couldn't stop screaming. I just kept picturing them." (07:15)
    "They were strapped in their car seats. They couldn't even get up to save themselves. She literally locked them in their car seats and shut the doors. I can't even imagine what they went through." (07:21)

• Contrasting Stories:

  • Hernandez claimed she left the AC running; employee and bystander testimony, as well as vehicle functionality (automatic shut-off after 1 hour), suggest otherwise (07:35–08:11).

• Procedure Time vs. Actual Time:

  • Lip procedure typically 15–20 minutes, but children left alone for over two hours due to a busy spa day (08:14).

• Emphasis on Neglect:

  • Host Nancy Grace: "She just stood there with her lips done. That's what she gave his life for was to have that look on her." (08:24)

• Legal Proceedings:

  • Next hearing set for January 12 to determine retrial on murder and manslaughter charges (08:32–08:55).

Notable Quotes and Moments

• Grandmother's grief:

  • Katie Martinez: "I couldn't stop screaming. I just kept picturing them. ... They couldn't even get up to save themselves." (07:15–07:21)

• Host’s stark summary:

  • Nancy Grace: "She just stood there with her lips done. That's what she gave his life for was to have that look on her." (08:24)

Timeline of Important Segments

| Timestamp | Content | |:-------------- |:------------------------------------------------------------------- | | 01:14 | Breaking crime news: Pediatrician Torres sentenced for sex abuse | | 02:52 | Prosecutors describe abuse in presence of parents | | 03:39 | Torres' “demonic entities” defense and blame of victims | | 03:51 | MH delivers victim impact statement | | 04:09 | Prosecutor vows further prosecution and lifetime sentencing | | 06:01 | California mother Maya Hernandez’s trial for hot car death | | 07:15–07:21| Grandmother's devastating reaction | | 08:24 | Nancy Grace’s commentary on Hernandez’s motives | | 08:32–08:55| Status on retrial for murder/manslaughter, next court date set |

Tone and Language

Direct, unflinching, and empathetic toward the victims, the episode is committed to exposing the crimes and striving for accountability. Nancy Grace and reporters deliver the facts with urgency and emotional weight, encapsulated in the show’s hard-hitting, victim-centered style.

This episode serves as a stark reminder of the vulnerability of children in places they should be safe, the heartbreak left in the wake of preventable tragedy, and the relentless pursuit of justice by prosecutors and loved ones alike.