Napa DUI Crash, Yesica Barajas Faces Two Murder Charges After Highway 29 Crash Killed Her Two Children

Yesica Barajas of Napa, California, faces two murder charges in Napa County Superior Court after a March 16, 2025 crash on Highway 29 killed her children, 10-year-old Damian Montanez and 9-year-old Aaliyah Montanez. She has pleaded not guilty. The charges are allegations, and no conviction has been verified.

Prosecutors first charged Barajas with gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated, DUI causing injury and child abuse. The Napa County District Attorney’s Office later amended the complaint to add two murder counts. The case was still pending in the most recent official Napa County update located for 2026.

Yesica Barajas Napa Case: Quick Facts

Detail	Verified information
Defendant	Yesica Barajas
Court	Napa County Superior Court, California
Prosecuting agency	Napa County District Attorney’s Office
Crash date and place	March 16, 2025, southbound Highway 29 near the Imola Avenue off-ramp, Napa
Children killed	Damian Montanez, 10; Aaliyah Montanez, 9
Initial charges (March 2025)	Two counts of gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated, DUI of alcohol and a drug causing injury, and two counts of child abuse
Later charges (July 2025)	Two counts of murder added
Plea	Not guilty
Bail	Initially set at $1.5 million; held without bail after the murder charges were added
Status	Pending, per the latest official information located
Conviction	None verified
Class action, settlement or claim form	None; this is an individual criminal prosecution

What Happened in the March 16, 2025 Napa Highway 29 Crash?

According to the Napa County District Attorney’s Office, the crash on the morning of March 16, 2025 killed Barajas’s two children. The California Highway Patrol said the vehicle left the roadway and struck a tree near the southbound Highway 29 off-ramp at Imola Avenue. KTVU reported that investigators suspected alcohol, drugs and speed as factors.

Those were early investigative statements. They are not findings by a court.

How Did the Napa County District Attorney Change the Charges Against Yesica Barajas?

When the case was filed in March 2025, the complaint charged two felony counts of gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated, one felony count of DUI of alcohol and a drug causing injury, and two felony counts of child abuse. Prosecutors also alleged aggravating circumstances, including multiple and vulnerable victims. Napa County Superior Court Judge Elia Ortiz provisionally set bail at $1.5 million, after prosecutors asked for $2 million.

At a July 15, 2025 hearing, prosecutors amended the complaint to add two counts of murder. The court then ordered Barajas held without bail.

A murder charge is an allegation. The prosecution still has to prove every charged offense beyond a reasonable doubt.

What Is Yesica Barajas’s Plea and Case Status in Napa County?

The Napa County District Attorney’s Office reported that Barajas pleaded not guilty and denied the special allegations in May 2025. Its January 2026 newsletter listed the murder case as pending and said more court dates were expected in 2026.

A June 2026 Patch report said Barajas was seeking release while awaiting trial. No official court order on that request could be verified, so this article does not say whether it was granted or denied. No official source reviewed shows a conviction, dismissal, plea agreement or sentence.

How Does California Law Treat Murder Charges in a DUI Death?

Most fatal DUI cases in California are charged as gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated under Penal Code § 191.5(a), which carries a state prison term of 4, 6 or 10 years per count. A DUI death can instead be charged as second-degree murder under Penal Code § 187(a) when prosecutors allege “implied malice.” Second-degree murder carries 15 years to life per count.

Implied malice generally means the defendant intentionally did an act whose natural consequences were dangerous to human life, knew it was dangerous to human life, and acted with conscious disregard for life. California courts have allowed DUI murder prosecutions on that theory since People v. Watson (1981) 30 Cal.3d 290.

Prosecutors in the Barajas case have not been quoted in the sources reviewed as publicly detailing which evidence supports the implied-malice theory, so this article does not assume any. The evidence that will be presented at trial should not be inferred from early news reports.

For general background, see What Is the Punishment for a DUI in California? (2026 Complete Guide).

What Rights Do Crime Victims’ Families Have in California Courts?

Under Marsy’s Law (California Constitution, Article I, Section 28(b)), victims and, where a victim has died, certain family members have constitutional rights in criminal cases. These include notice of hearings, the right to be heard at proceedings such as sentencing and plea or release hearings, and the right to restitution. Restitution for out-of-pocket losses such as funeral costs and counseling is generally ordered at sentencing under Penal Code § 1202.4 if there is a conviction.

Families can also seek help from the California Victim Compensation Board (CalVCB), which can cover funeral costs, mental health counseling and other losses without a civil lawsuit. Contact the Napa County Victim Services program for help with notices and applications.

Can the Napa DUI Crash Lead to a California Wrongful-Death Lawsuit?

Potentially. A criminal prosecution and a civil wrongful-death claim are separate matters. California Code of Civil Procedure § 377.60 lists who may bring a wrongful-death action, and eligibility depends on the claimant’s relationship to the deceased and the facts. A criminal charge does not by itself create civil liability or a payment, and criminal and civil cases use different legal standards.

Civil filing deadlines run independently of the criminal case, so waiting for the criminal case to end can cause problems. Anyone considering a claim should get California-specific legal advice promptly. Settlements involving minors’ estates generally need court approval.

Are California Wrongful-Death Settlements Taxable?

Under Internal Revenue Code Section 104(a)(2), damages received on account of personal physical injury or death are generally excluded from federal income tax. Punitive damages and interest are generally taxable. Confirm treatment with a tax professional.

How Much Do California Wrongful-Death Lawyers Charge?

Wrongful-death lawyers usually work on contingency, with percentages that vary by firm and case stage, and costs often repaid from the recovery. Check the fee agreement carefully.

Key Dates in the Yesica Barajas Napa Criminal Case

Date	Event
March 16, 2025	Crash on Highway 29 near Imola Avenue kills Damian and Aaliyah Montanez
March 18, 2025	Napa County DA announces the initial felony charges
May 6, 2025	Barajas pleads not guilty and denies special allegations
July 15, 2025	Prosecutors amend the complaint to add two murder counts; held without bail
January 2026	Napa County DA lists the case as pending, with more court dates expected in 2026
June 2026	Report that Barajas is seeking release before trial; outcome not verified
October 1, 2026	No verified conviction, dismissal or sentence located

Yesica Barajas Napa DUI Crash FAQ

Did Yesica Barajas plead guilty in the Napa DUI crash case?

No. Napa County’s official update says she pleaded not guilty and denied the special allegations.

Is Yesica Barajas convicted of murder in California?

No conviction has been verified from the official sources reviewed. The January 2026 county update described the murder charges as pending.

What charges does Yesica Barajas face in Napa County?

Two counts of murder, plus charges involving DUI of alcohol and a drug causing injury and child abuse, according to the Napa County District Attorney’s Office.

How old were Damian and Aaliyah Montanez?

Damian was 10 and Aaliyah was 9.

Where did the Barajas Highway 29 crash happen?

On southbound Highway 29 near the Imola Avenue off-ramp in Napa. The vehicle left the roadway and hit a tree.

Did prosecutors originally charge Yesica Barajas with murder?

No. The original charges were gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated, DUI causing injury and child abuse. Murder counts were added in July 2025.

Was Yesica Barajas held without bail in Napa County?

Yes. After the murder charges were added, the court ordered her held without bail, according to the Napa County DA’s Office.

Can a California family bring a wrongful-death claim after a DUI crash?

Potentially, depending on the claimant’s relationship to the deceased, the facts and filing deadlines. A California attorney can advise.

Is there a settlement or claim form in the Napa Barajas case?

No. This is a criminal prosecution, not a class action or public settlement program.

Bottom Line on the Yesica Barajas Napa DUI Murder Case

Two children, Damian and Aaliyah Montanez, died in a March 16, 2025 crash on Highway 29 in Napa. Their mother, Yesica Barajas, was first charged with vehicular manslaughter, DUI causing injury and child abuse, and prosecutors later added two murder counts. She has pleaded not guilty, the case was still pending in the latest official information located, and no conviction has been verified. Charges, court proceedings and a final conviction are separate things.

This article provides general legal information and is not legal advice. AllAboutLawyer.com is not a law firm. Consult a licensed California attorney about your situation.

Sources: Napa County District Attorney’s Office, March 18, 2025 charging release; DA Newsline, June 2025, August 2025 and January 2026 newsletters; KTVU, “Children killed in suspected DUI in Napa identified”; Patch, “Mother Seeks Release Before Trial”; California Penal Code §§ 187, 191.5 and 1202.4; Cal. Code Civ. Proc. § 377.60; California Constitution Art. I, § 28(b); People v. Watson (1981) 30 Cal.3d 290.

Researched and written by Israr Ahmad, legal content researcher and founder of AllAboutLawyer.com. All facts verified against Napa County District Attorney releases and newsletters, KTVU and Patch reporting, and the cited California statutes and case law, as of October 1, 2026. Last Updated: October 1, 2026.