A Family Went to Honor a Loved One at a Sacramento Cemetery – A Toddler Didn't Come Home – Details

A joyful milestone had given the young parents every reason to look forward to the future. But days later, a father's desperate question from his hospital bed would force a grieving mother to deliver news no parent should ever have to hear.

What was supposed to be a peaceful afternoon of remembrance became a nightmare for a Sacramento family. Just days after celebrating their little girl's first birthday, her parents found themselves facing a tragedy that would change their lives forever.

A Family Visit That Took an Unthinkable Turn

On Sunday, November 1, 2026, a family gathered at a cemetery in Sacramento, California, to honor a loved one during Día de los Muertos, or the Day of the Dead, a holiday dedicated to remembering those who have passed away.

Among those visiting the gravesite were Joshua Mazur and his young daughter, Janessa Milagro Mazur Diaz, who was just 13 months old.

The family had come to pay their respects at the grave of Joshua's grandmother, expecting a quiet occasion devoted to remembrance. However, their time together would take a devastating turn before the afternoon was over.

For Janessa's mother, Jackline Patino Diaz, the heartbreaking events were especially difficult to comprehend because the family had only recently celebrated an important milestone.

Janessa had just turned one, and her mother recalled the happiness that had surrounded the little girl. "We were just celebrating, never in a bad mood," Jackline told KCRA 3. What should have been the beginning of another year filled with precious family memories instead became a day the family would never forget.

Shortly before 5 p.m., Sacramento police responded to an emergency near St. Mary Cemetery. When authorities arrived, they discovered that both the toddler and her father had sustained injuries. The little girl was rushed to the hospital, while Joshua also required urgent medical attention.

But despite the efforts to save Janessa, she did not survive her injuries. As the family struggled to process the unimaginable loss, disturbing details began to emerge about what had happened at the cemetery.

What Happened to Janessa at the Cemetery?

According to a November 3 report by the New York Post, Janessa and her father had been struck by a driver who was under the influence while they were visiting the gravesite. The driver was identified as 50-year-old Miguel Guzman, who was subsequently arrested and booked into Sacramento County Main Jail.

Authorities alleged that Miguel had been driving while intoxicated when his vehicle struck Joshua and Janessa, turning the family's cemetery visit into a fatal incident. The circumstances became even more troubling when investigators learned that Miguel had reportedly remained at the scene initially but allegedly attempted to leave before officers detained him.

Police began examining the incident as a possible hit-and-run, adding another disturbing element to the investigation. While the toddler's injuries proved fatal, her father survived the incident but was left with serious injuries.

Joshua remained in the intensive care unit (ICU) with broken ribs, a fractured nose, and a fractured skull, as his family faced the overwhelming reality of Janessa's death and his uncertain recovery. Amid the medical emergency, Jackline was left with a heartbreaking responsibility that no parent should ever have to face.

A Father's First Question and a Mother's Heartbreaking Answer

As Joshua recovered in the hospital, he was still waiting for news about his little girl. When Jackline finally entered his hospital room, his immediate concern was not his own injuries but the whereabouts of their daughter. "The first thing he asked me when I walked in the room was, 'Where's my baby?' and I had to tell him she was gone," Jackline recalled.

The grieving mother then described the devastating reality of having to tell her injured partner that their daughter was no longer alive:

"She's not here with us anymore. It's so crazy to think that we were just sitting at the cemetery, and he just came and ran over her, and now she's gone. She's not here with us."

Her account captured the suddenness of the tragedy: one moment, the family had been together honoring a loved one, and the next, they were facing another loss of their own. But as the parents struggled with their grief, the legal proceedings surrounding the accused driver brought another unsettling detail to light.

This was reportedly not the first time Miguel had been involved in an alcohol-related driving offense that injured someone.

Accused Driver's Previous Conviction Emerges as He Appears in Court

On Tuesday, November 3, Miguel made his first appearance in Sacramento Superior Court following his arrest. According to The Sacramento Bee's report, the Sacramento County District Attorney's Office charged him with felony gross vehicular manslaughter while under the influence of alcohol.

Prosecutors also filed a misdemeanor charge of driving under the influence of alcohol and causing injury to Janessa's father, Joshua. The criminal complaint alleged that Miguel had been driving at an unsafe speed that prevented him from maintaining proper control of his vehicle. In addition, he faces a separate felony charge of driving under the influence of drugs and causing injury to Joshua.

However, one detail in the criminal complaint raised further concerns about the accused driver's history. Court documents revealed that Miguel had previously been convicted in Sacramento County in April 2009 of driving while intoxicated and causing injury to another person. That conviction dated back more than 17 years before the cemetery tragedy.

During his Tuesday arraignment, Miguel did not enter a plea. Earlier reports had indicated that his bail was set at $470,000, but the situation changed following his court appearance. The Sacramento Bee reported that Miguel remained in custody at Sacramento County Main Jail and was deemed ineligible for bail at that stage.

His attorney requested a bail review hearing, allowing the judge to hear arguments and determine whether bail should be set. The hearing has been scheduled for Friday morning, November 6.

Meanwhile, the tragedy occurred against the backdrop of broader concerns about traffic fatalities and pedestrian safety in Sacramento.

Sacramento's Troubling Traffic Safety Record

Just days before Janessa's death, an October 27 ABC10 investigation highlighted troubling findings about pedestrian collisions in the city. After reviewing a partial set of police records from 2024, the station identified 149 vehicle-versus-pedestrian crashes. Of those incidents, 54 — approximately 36% — were reported as hit-and-runs, while nine pedestrians were killed.

However, ABC10 emphasized that these figures represented only the records it had received, not a complete accounting of Sacramento's pedestrian crashes. The investigation also revealed significant delays in obtaining police reports, with the department citing staffing limitations, individual case reviews, and a backlog of public-records requests.

Sacramento had adopted its Vision Zero goal in 2017, aiming to eliminate traffic deaths and serious injuries by 2027. Yet, as that deadline approaches, fatal incidents continue to affect the community. By October 24, 2026, Sacramento had recorded 39 traffic fatalities for the year, including 17 pedestrians, according to the figures reported by ABC10.

Mayor Kevin McCarty acknowledged the seriousness of the problem, pointing to limited resources and the challenges of improving street safety throughout the city.

While those broader figures do not establish the circumstances of Janessa's death, they underline the ongoing concerns surrounding dangerous driving and the devastating consequences that collisions can have on families. For Janessa's loved ones, however, the tragedy is far more than another statistic; it is the loss of a little girl whose life had barely begun.

Family Launches Fundraiser as Janessa's Father Remains in Intensive Care

In the aftermath of the tragedy, Janessa's family established a GoFundMe campaign titled "Honoring Janessa Milagro's Beautiful Life" to help cover her funeral and memorial expenses, Joshua's medical treatment and recovery, and other financial burdens. The fundraiser, organized by Jackie Diaz and Joshua, described the family's devastating loss and the circumstances that led to it.

In their message, the family explained that they had been visiting Joshua's grandmother's gravesite when the tragedy occurred, turning a peaceful occasion into something unimaginable. "We are heartbroken beyond words. No parent should ever have to experience the pain of losing their child," the family wrote.

They expressed how desperately they wished they could hold Janessa again, describing the emotional pain, uncertainty, and financial hardship they are now facing. The message also addressed Joshua's condition, explaining that he is still in intensive care and fighting to recover from his injuries.

With the family suddenly confronted by funeral arrangements and mounting medical expenses, they appealed to relatives, friends, and the wider community for assistance. "Any donation, no matter how small, would mean more than words can express," the fundraising message stated.

The family also asked those unable to contribute financially to share the fundraiser and keep Joshua and the rest of their loved ones in their prayers. The response from the community has been substantial. By Tuesday morning, November 3, more than $19,000 had reportedly been raised toward the family's $35,000 goal.

That amount has since climbed to more than $29,900, bringing the family considerably closer to its target. The family thanked everyone who had offered kindness, prayers, donations, and support during one of the most painful periods of their lives.

Yet beyond the urgent financial needs and the ongoing court proceedings, the family's fundraising page also contained something deeply personal: a final message to the little girl they had lost.

A Mother's Emotional Tribute to Her Little Girl

Toward the end of the fundraiser, Janessa's loved ones shared an emotional tribute reflecting on the childhood memories she will never have the chance to make. "Our sweet Janessa Milagro, Mommy will love you forever. You deserved a lifetime of birthdays, laughter, hugs, and beautiful memories," the message read. The tribute continued with a promise that the toddler will never be forgotten.

"Your little life made an impact that will never be forgotten. You will always be our baby girl, our angel, and a piece of our hearts that we will carry forever." The family concluded with a heartbreaking farewell: "Forever loved. Forever missed. Forever our Janessa Milagro. ❤️."

What began as a visit to honor a departed grandmother has now left another generation grieving an unimaginable loss.

As Joshua continues his recovery and legal proceedings against Miguel move forward, Janessa's family is left holding on to the memories of a little girl who had only just celebrated her first birthday and whose loved ones had expected to share so many more with her.

At this time, we wish to extend our most heartfelt condolences to Jackline, Joshua, and their entire family, friends, loved ones, and community as they mourn such a significant loss. RIP, little Janessa.