Worcester man faces charges of reckless endangerment after the death of his 4-year-old daughter

By Merritt Hughes

A Worcester man is being held without bail after being charged with assault and battery in connection to the tragic death of his four-year-old daughter and the hospitalization of his two other children. Francisco Ortiz, 34, is facing a total of five charges, including reckless endangerment and allowing significant injury to a child, according to court documents.

Police were called to Ortiz’s home around 4:30 p.m. on Tuesday after receiving a report that a child had fallen off a table and was unresponsive. Officers attempted life-saving measures, but the child was later pronounced dead at the hospital.

While at the scene, officers discovered two other children who appeared malnourished and had visible bruises. Both were taken to the hospital for further treatment.

The autopsy, performed the following day, raised further concerns. It found that the little girl had a skull fracture, which was compared to an injury consistent with a fall from two stories, not just a table. There were also multiple bruises and some signs of hemorrhaging in her neck. Ortiz had told police that the child had fallen from the table several times and said he was the only person taking care of the kids.

Given the seriousness of the charges, prosecutors pushed for Ortiz to be held without bail, and Judge Maura McCarthy agreed on Thursday. Ortiz has pleaded “not guilty,” but his attorney has yet to comment on the case.