Full Notification

SIMI VALLEY, Calif. — On December 6, 2025, at approximately 1:39 p.m., officers from the Simi Valley Police Department were dispatched to the 400 block of Talbert regarding a report of a baby who was not breathing.

SVPD Officers arrived on scene and immediately began performing CPR on the baby. Emergency medical personnel from the Ventura County Fire Department and AMR responded to the location and lifesaving measures were continued. The infant, a female, was transported to a local hospital, where she was later pronounced deceased.

During the initial investigation, officers located items inside the residence that indicated narcotics use. Detectives from the Simi Valley Police Department Major Crimes Bureau assumed responsibility for the investigation. A search warrant was subsequently authored and executed at the residence.

During the search and subsequent investigation, it is believed that the infant ingested fentanyl while in the bedroom where she was found.

On December 8, 2025, an autopsy was conducted at the Ventura County Medical Examiner’s Office. The autopsy determined the cause of death to be “Fentanyl intoxication.” At that time, the manner of death was listed as “UNDETERMINED.”

As the investigation continued, the infant’s parents, George Salas, 29, of Simi Valley, and Karina Yanes, 30, of Simi Valley, were arrested on suspicion of violating California Penal Code section 273a(a), willfully placing a child in a situation where the child was likely to suffer great bodily harm or death. Both were booked into the Ventura County Main Jail without incident.

The investigation was presented to the Ventura County District Attorney’s Office for review.

On September 28, 2026, following a review of the case presented by the Simi Valley Police Department Major Crimes Detective Bureau, the Ventura County District Attorney’s Office filed the following charges:

George Salas: One count of California Penal Code section 187(a), second-degree murder.

Karina Yanes: One count of California Penal Code section 273a(a), willfully placing a child in a situation where the child was likely to suffer great bodily harm or death.

The Simi Valley Police Department’s Major Crimes Detective Bureau conducted the investigation in coordination with the Ventura County District Attorney’s Office.

All defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.

Media inquiries:
Simi Valley Police Department
Public Information Officer
Detective Sgt. Rick Morton  
[email protected]