WORCESTER, Mass. — A Worcester man who has been held without bail since he was charged last week in the death of his 4-year-old daughter is due in court Wednesday for a dangerousness hearing.
Francisco Ortiz, 34, was arraigned last week on charges of assault and battery on a child with substantial injury, permitting substantial injury to a child, assault and battery, two counts of permitting injury to a child, and reckless endangerment of a child, according to the Worcester District Attorney’s Office.
Officers responding to a report of an unresponsive child at the family’s Sever Street home on the afternoon of Oct. 15 spoke with Ortiz, who claimed his daughter was injured in a fall from a kitchen table, authorities said.
A subsequent autopsy determined that the girl had a skull fracture consistent with a two-story fall.
Police and hospital staff noticed the girl had several bruises on her body as well. Ortiz allegedly attributed the bruises to multiple falls.
A plea of not guilty was entered on Ortiz’s behalf.
An investigation is ongoing.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.
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