Ana Maria Cardona was born on November 26, 1961. Little is known about her early life, but she eventually became a mother of three children. Two of her children were older than her youngest, Lazaro. He was born on September 18, 1987, to Ana Maria and her partner, Fidel Figueroa. Fidel was recognized as a well-known drug dealer, but he died under mysterious circumstances just two days after Lazaro's birth.

On November 2, 1990, the body of three-year-old Lazaro Figueroa was discovered in Miami Beach, Florida. The boy was hidden beneath some bushes and was in extremely poor condition. He had bruises, a skeletal appearance, and was wearing a soiled diaper. At the time of his death, he weighed only 18 pounds, which was significantly below the healthy weight for a child his age. He was later given the nickname "Baby Lollipops" by the media due to the design of his T-shirt.

An autopsy revealed that Lazaro had suffered severe abuse. He had a fractured skull, a fresh tear in his brain, and multiple other injuries. His body showed signs of starvation, dehydration, and long-term abuse. The injuries suggested that he had been tortured over several months.

Investigators determined that Lazaro died from a blow to the head. Evidence indicated that shortly after the murder, Ana Maria Cardona and her girlfriend, Olivia Gonzalez, left the area and traveled to Central Florida, taking a trip to Disney World.

During the investigations, neighbors reported that Cardona treated Lazaro poorly. When the police gathered information about the case, they conducted interviews with people in the community. It eventually led them to identify Lazaro as the son of Cardona.

Cardona was arrested and faced trial for her role in Lazaro's death. In her first trial in 1992, she claimed that Gonzalez was the one who had beaten Lazaro. Witnesses testified that Cardona had been abusive toward her son. Ultimately, she was found guilty of first-degree murder and aggravated child abuse. She received a death sentence, becoming the first woman on death row in Florida.

In 2002, her conviction was overturned due to a legal issue, prompting a second trial in 2010. In this trial, the focus was on the physical abuse Lazaro had endured and the events leading to his death. Although a witness initially confessed to harming Lazaro, she later recanted her statements. The jury found Cardona guilty again, and she was sentenced to death a second time.

More than a decade later, a third trial took place in 2017. This time, the prosecution did not seek the death penalty. Cardona continued to deny she was responsible for Lazaro's injuries, placing blame on Gonzalez. Once again, the jury found Cardona guilty of first-degree murder and aggravated child abuse. However, she was sentenced to life in prison instead of death.

The case received extensive media coverage due to its tragic nature and the severity of the abuse suffered by Lazaro Figueroa.