Court grants appeal review

SANTA FE — The New Mexico Supreme Court has granted a review of a New Mexico Court of Appeals decision upholding the 2019 convictions of former Portales daycare owners Sandi and Mary Taylor.

The Monday order by the state’s highest court granted a petition from the Taylors, who were sentenced to 30 and 36 years in prison, respectively, after two children in their care were left in a hot vehicle for 2 hours and 40 minutes in July 2017.

Maliyah Jones, 22 months, died as a result of the incident. Aubri Loya, then 23 months, was seriously injured but survived and has recently started public school.

Officials said temperatures outside the vehicle exceeded 90 degrees.

The state Supreme Court last September, in a 3-1 decision, ordered the Taylors released from prison pending appeal on their 2019 convictions.

The Taylors have argued the 2017 incident, while unquestionably tragic, was accidental in nature and did not rise to the level of reckless child abuse.