Jennifer Prudencio stood before the court on Wednesday, where she faced charges of involuntary manslaughter and reckless endangerment. These charges stem from the tragic death of her 3-year-old son, Yael Guardado-Prudencio, despite her awareness of his illness.
In his initial statement, Suffolk District Attorney Kevin Hayden described the case as a “tragedy beyond words.” However, prosecutors working under his supervision provided further details about the allegations during the court proceedings.
Prudencio stands accused of leaving Guardado-Prudencio alone at their Chelsea apartment, under the supervision of his 8-year-old and 7-year-old siblings, while she went out to a bar in Revere for a night of drinking. This incident occurred despite the fact that she was aware that the youngest child was ill.
According to Mark, Prudencio chose to spend the night at her boyfriend’s place in Somerville instead of going home to her children, claiming that she had been drinking alcohol for several hours at the bar. Mark mentioned that Prudencio was unaffected by the concerned texts sent by her 8-year-old son, which even included a video showcasing the victim’s deteriorating condition.
According to prosecutors, it is reported that she promised the boy that she would return soon, but instead, she decided to spend the night at her boyfriend’s place. The following morning at 10 a.m., when Prudencio finally returned home, Yael Guardado-Prudencio had already tragically passed away.
Prudencio, when brought before the court, displayed signs of distress, as noted by her lawyer.
The defense’s attempts to secure a low bail were unsuccessful, as the judge ultimately set bail at $100,000. This amount exceeded the request made by Prudencio’s attorney by more than 10 times.