Worcester man charged in connection with death of 4-year-old daughter

WORCESTER – A four-year-old girl is dead in Worcester and prosecutors say the little girl’s father is to blame.

Prosecutors said Francisco Ortiz, 34, of Worcester, is charged with assault and battery on a child causing substantial injury, assault and battery, two counts of permitting injury to a child and recklessly driving endangering a child. .

Police say father called 911 on Tuesday and said the girl had fallen from a table, but an autopsy showed the child had a skull fracture on her head and that the fall could have been from two stories high, not one table.

Police said the child also had bruises all over her body.

Neighbors like Shandi Morris saw emergency responders running to the family’s apartment on her floor. “I feel bad, I really do,” Morris said. “EMS brought her out to revive the little girl.”

DCF takes custody of two other children

Investigators say two other children in the apartment were also malnourished and had bruises all over their bodies. The Department of Children and Families said they are now caring for these children.

“They were all extremely happy and outgoing and then we all find out. Why are you going to abuse children?” Morris asked.

Ortiz told investigators he was raising the children alone, leaving neighbors wondering why someone would be accused of hurting a defenseless child.

Ortiz was held without bail pending a dangerous conduct hearing scheduled for Oct. 23.