VENTURA, Calif. — Two Simi Valley parents face severe felony charges—including second-degree murder—after their 11-month-old infant daughter died from a lethal fentanyl overdose inside the family’s home, county prosecutors announced.
Click here to view the official Ventura County District Attorney's Office press release regarding the charges filed against George James Salas and Karina Lucia Yanes.
The formal criminal filings were announced by Ventura County District Attorney Erik Nasarenko following the arrests and initial court appearances of the defendants.
Authorities identified the parents as 29-year-old George James Salas (born December 3, 1996) and 30-year-old Karina Lucia Yanes (born February 1, 1996), both residents of Simi Valley.
The charges stem from Ventura County Superior Court case number 2026027528 under court docket 26CF101743.
Dec. 2025 Incident, SVPD Investigation, and Toxicological Findings
According to prosecution reports and court documents released by the District Attorney’s Office, the fatal incident occurred on December 6, 2025, at the family’s residence in Simi Valley.
On that morning, Yanes departed the home for work, leaving 11-month-old Ariya Salas in the sole care of her father, George Salas, who investigators identified as a known fentanyl user.
While left alone in Salas' care, the infant became completely unresponsive. Emergency medical responders and Simi Valley Police Department officers rushed to the scene and transported the baby to a nearby hospital, where she was pronounced dead.
During an extensive search of the bedroom where Ariya was found, Simi Valley Police Department detectives recovered physical evidence including illicit fentanyl powder and specialized drug paraphernalia.
Subsequent autopsy and toxicology reports completed by the Ventura County Medical Examiner’s Office confirmed that Ariya died directly from acute fentanyl intoxication.
Prosecution Statements and Detailed Felony Charges
Senior Deputy District Attorney Audry Nafziger and Deputy District Attorney Devin Mirchi, prosecutors with the District Attorney’s Office Major Crimes Narcotics Unit, are leading the prosecution against both parents.
"An 11-month-old child lost her life because she was allegedly exposed to a lethal amount of this synthetic drug," stated District Attorney Erik Nasarenko in an official release. "We have a duty as prosecutors to hold her parents responsible for this completely avoidable and tragic death."
"Fentanyl is one of the deadliest drugs in America, and an 11-month-old is completely helpless against it," added Senior Deputy District Attorney Audry Nafziger.
George James Salas faces the following formal criminal charges and sentencing enhancements under the California Penal Code and Health & Safety Code:
- PC § 187(a): Second-Degree Murder (Felony)
- PC § 273a(a): Child Abuse Likely to Produce Great Bodily Harm or Death (Felony)
- HS § 11350(b): Possession of a Controlled Substance (Misdemeanor/Felony)
- HS § 11377(a): Possession of a Controlled Substance (Misdemeanor)
- HS § 11364: Possession of Controlled Substance Paraphernalia (Misdemeanor)
- Special Allegations: PC § 12022.95 (Willful Harm Resulting in Death), PC § 667S2 (Strike Prior), PC § 667(a)(1) (Serious Felony), CRC 4.421(a)(1) (Great Violence), and CRC 4.421(a)(3) (Particularly Vulnerable Victim).
Karina Lucia Yanes faces the following formal criminal charges and enhancements.
- PC § 273a(a): Child Abuse Likely to Produce Great Bodily Harm or Death (Felony)
- Special Allegations: PC § 12022.95 (Willful Harm Resulting in Death), CRC 4.421(a)(1) (Great Violence), and CRC 4.421(a)(3) (Particularly Vulnerable Victim).
Custody Status and Upcoming Court Dates
Salas and Yanes made their initial court appearances on September 28, 2026, in Courtroom 13 of the Ventura County Superior Court, where their formal arraignments were continued to October 26, 2026, at 1:30 p.m.
Salas remains held at the Ventura County Main Jail in lieu of $1,040,000 bail, with a specialized bail review hearing scheduled for September 30, 2026. Yanes remains in custody with bail set at $50,000.
Official case documents are available through the Ventura County District Attorney's Office Newsroom.