30 Years for Pervert 'Prophet' Pediatrician Convicted of Sex Abusing Young Patients | Crime Alert 6AM 12.19.25

Summary

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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

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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.

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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)

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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)

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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 |

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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.

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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.

Transcript

[Podcast Host]

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[Sydney Sumner]

Hourly Update Breaking Crime News Now A former Maryland pediatrician who claimed demonic entities made his victims lie about sex abuse. Now he's sentenced one recent 11 year old victim reports to her mom, 1774 year old Ernesto Cesar Torres molested her during a pediatric exam. Authorities then find at least 24 victims, all very young female patients. From Torres Medical Practice, I'm Sydney Sumner.

[Narrator / Reporter]

Judge William Nicholas sentenced 74 year old Torres of Friedrich, Maryland to 30 years for sexual abuse of a minor and three counts of third degree sex offense. On May 7, 2019, Friedrich Police received a call from the mother of an 11 year old victim to report that her child had been sexually abused by Torres during a pediatric exam in his office. The mother told police she brought her child to Torres to treat a mild skin condition, but that her child said Torres made her uncomfortable by placing his hand down her pants and touching her down there. In addition, the child described Torres rubbing her stomach repeatedly and kissing her. FPD contacted Child Protective Services and the Child Advocacy center who conducted a forensic interview with the victim. Torres was subsequently arrested at his medical practice. After the initial allegation, a judge allowed the pediatrician to continue seeing patients, but he later agreed to stop practicing medicine as part of the terms of his bail. As the investigation continued, detectives identified 24 victims, all young female patients who saw Torres between 1980 and 2018.

[Prosecutor / Legal Commentator]

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.

[Narrator / Reporter]

State's Attorney Charlie Smith initially charged Torres with 97 criminal counts of sexually abusing dozens of his juvenile patients, but the court ordered the indictment be severed by victim. Trial proceeded on count 24, sexual abuse of a minor in counts 25, 26 and 27, sexual offense in the third degree representing three years of sexual abuse on MH from age 9 to 11. At sentencing, the doctor claimed he was a prophet in a previous life and demonic entities are possessing the victims, making them lie about experiencing abuse at his hands.

[Prosecutor / Legal Commentator]

He blamed the victims. He did not take responsibility for his actions, which I thought was just egregious. I mean, he already traumatized him by sexually molesting him to traumatize this young girl again by saying she's possessed by.

[Narrator / Reporter]

Demons, mh told the court. I now can't trust male authority, but my childhood was taken away from me. Upon release, Torres will serve five years of probation and lifetime sex offender supervision on the registry, but prosecutors say they aren't done yet and hope Torres will spend the rest of his life behind bars.

[Prosecutor / Legal Commentator]

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.

[Public Investing Sponsor]

Support for the show comes from Public, the investing platform for those who take it seriously. On Public you can build a multi asset portfolio of stocks, bonds, options, crypto and now generated assets which allow you to turn any idea into an investable index with AI. It all starts with your prompt. From renewable energy companies with high free cash flow to semiconductor suppliers growing revenue over 20% year over year. You can literally type any prompt and put the AI to work. It screens thousands of stocks, builds a one of a kind index and lets you back test it against the S&P 500. Then you can invest in a few clicks. Generated assets are like EFTs with infinite possibilities, completely customizable and based on your thesis, not someone else's. Go to public.com podcast and earn an uncapped 1% bonus when you transfer your portfolio. That's public.com podcast paid for by Public Investing Brokerage Services by Open to the Public Investing Inc. Member FINRA SIPC Advisory Services by Public Advisors llc. SEC Registered Advisor Generated Assets is an interactive analysis tool. Output is for informational purposes only and is not investment recommendation or advice. Complete disclosures [e-mail] disclosures it's the most.

[Valpak Sponsor]

Wonderful time of the year, and Valpak is here to make it even better. This month, as you sip through holiday mail, don't miss the blue Valpak envelope. From dining to holiday shopping, there's a slate full of savings in your mailbox, plus a chance to instantly win $100. That's right, you can find $100 Christmas cash inside. Want to save even more money on what you love? Go to valpak.com for local coupons and offers. It pays to open Val Pack. No purchase necessary for instant Win voip prohibited prices are randomly inserted. See specially marked Valpak envelopes for details.

[Narrator / Reporter]

In California, a jury deadlocked on a verdict for a mother who left her children in a hot car while she received lip filler. Maya Hernandez's older son survived, but his baby brother Emilio, did not. A Kern county jury convicted Hernandez on two counts of child endangerment. Thursday. They deadlocked on second degree murder and involuntary manslaughter. The jurors questioned implied malice in connection with the murder charge under California Penal Code 188. Implied malice means the deliberate intention to unlawfully take away a life.

[Reporter / Witness]

20 year old Maya Hernandez is accused of leaving her two children, ages 1 and 2, strapped inside car seats inside her vehicle as she visited the Always Beautiful Med Spa in Bakersfield on June 29 for a lip injection procedure. At around 4:30pm Hernandez allegedly returned to her car, a 2022 Toyota Corolla Hybrid, and discovered one year old Emilio Gutierrez in distress and foaming at the mouth. A customer took his two year old brother into a restroom and poured water on his face while first responders arrived. Although the two year old survived the incident, Emilio was pronounced dead after failed resuscitation attempts. Their grandmother, Katie Martinez, is devastated by the loss in Hernandez actions.

[Podcast Host]

I couldn't stop screaming. I just kept picturing them.

[Sydney Sumner]

Alone.

[Podcast Host]

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.

[Narrator / Reporter]

Hernandez told police that she left the.

[Reporter / Witness]

Children inside the vehicle with the air conditioner on, while an employee reportedly said the children could have stayed in the waiting room during the procedure, the employee said when booking the appointment, Hernandez asked if she could bring her children with her, to which she replied that wouldn't be a problem and they could stay in the waiting room during her procedure. A nurse at the spa said that Hernandez made no mention of the children being with her when she arrived. A bystander who grabbed the 2 year old from the car said that the AC was not turned on. The vehicle's manufacturer indicated that the air conditioner automatically turns off after an hour of inactivity. But according to what an expert told.

[Narrator / Reporter]

Bakersfield police, the lit procedure typically takes.

[Reporter / Witness]

Around 15 to 20 minutes. But police said Hernandez left the children in the car for over two hours since the day in question at the spa had been unusually busy.

[Podcast Host]

She just stood there with her lips done. That's what she gave his life for was to have that look on her.

[Reporter / Witness]

The judge ruled that since the jury.

[Narrator / Reporter]

Deadlocked on the murder charge, a mistrial would be declared for both murder and manslaughter. A status hearing has been set for January 12th. During the hearing, it will be decided whether Hernandez will be retried for murder and manslaughter. For the latest crime and justice breaking news, be sure to follow the Crime Alert hourly update on your favorite podcast app. With this Crime Alert, I'm Sidney Sumner.

[Public Investing Sponsor]

Support for the show comes from Public, the investing platform for those who take it seriously. On Public you can build a multi asset portfolio of stocks, bonds, options, crypto and now generated assets which allow you to turn any idea into an investment investable index with AI. It all starts with your prompt. From renewable energy companies with high free cash flow to semiconductor suppliers growing revenue over 20% year over year, you can literally type any prompt and put the AI to work. It screens thousands of stocks, builds a one of a kind index and lets you back test it against the S&P 500. Then you can invest in a few clicks. Generated assets are like EFTs with infinite possibilities, completely customizable and based on your thesis, not someone else's. Go to public.com podcast and earn an uncapped 1% bonus when you transfer your portfolio. That's public.com podcast paid for by Public Investing Brokerage Services by Open to the Public Investing Inc. Member FINRA SIPC Advisory Services by Public Advisors, llc. SEC Registered Advisor Generated Assets is an interactive analysis tool. Output is for informational purposes only and is not investment recommendation or advice. Complete disclosures [e-mail] disclosures it's the most.

[Valpak Sponsor]

Wonderful time of the year and Valpak is here to make it even better. This month as you sip through holiday mail, don't miss the blue Valpak envelope. From dining to holiday shopping, there's a sleigh full of savings in your mailbox. Plus a chance to instantly win $100 that's right. You can find $100 Christmas cash inside. Want to save even more money on what you love? Go to valpak.com for local coupons and offers. It pays to open Valpak. No purchase necessary for instant Win voip prohibited prices are randomly inserted. See specially marked Valpak envelopes for details.

[Podcast Host]

This is an iHeart podcast. Guaranteed Human.