Crime
Francisco Ortiz is being held without bail after his 4-year-old child died in his care, according to court documents.
A Worcester man is being held without bail on assault and battery charges after his four-year-old daughter died and his two other children were hospitalized.
Francisco Oritz, 34, faces five counts of assault and battery, reckless endangerment and permitting substantial injury to a child, related to injuries sustained by three children in his custody, court documents show.
Police responded to Ortiz’s home around 4:30 p.m. Tuesday with a report of a child who had fallen from a table and was unresponsive, according to a statement of facts. The report said officers began life-saving measures on the child, who was later taken to the hospital and died.
While at Ortiz’s residence, police said they found two other children who appeared to be malnourished. They also had several bruises on their bodies, the police said. Both children are currently being treated for their injuries, according to the document.
The dead victim had multiple bruises in “various places” on his body, police said. Ortiz allegedly told police the child had fallen off the table several times before. He told police he was the sole caregiver for all three children.
An autopsy performed Wednesday said the victim had a skull fracture “consistent with a two-story fall and not a fall from a table,” documents state. The autopsy also noted the multiple bruises and said there was some bleeding on the child’s neck.
Prosecutors filed a motion to hold Ortiz without bail because of the dangerous nature of the alleged crime, according to the case. Judge Maura McCarthy granted the motion Thursday, court records show.
Ortiz entered a “not guilty” plea Thursday, according to documents. An attorney for Ortiz declined to comment.
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