Merced man convicted of trying to gas 2-year-old daughter

MERCED, Calif. (AP) - A California man has been convicted of trying kill his 2-year-old daughter by gassing her - and himself.

Authorities say Gerardo Ruiz-Lopez locked himself and the toddler inside a walk-in closet at his Merced home in 2016 with two five-gallon tanks of propane that were releasing fumes.

Police officers checking up on the child’s welfare forced their way into the house and rescued the child, who wasn’t moving. She was treated and survived.

Ruiz-Lopez was convicted Tuesday of attempted murder and child abuse. He could face seven years to life in prison.