WORCESTER—A Worcester man has been indicted on murder and multiple child abuse charges in the death of a 4-year-old child and the abuse of two other children, Worcester County District Attorney Joseph D. Early Jr. announced this week.
Francisco Ortiz, 34, of Worcester, was indicted by a Worcester County Grand Jury on one count each of murder and improper storage of a firearm, as well as three counts each of permitting bodily injury to a child and reckless endangerment of a child.
Ortiz was initially arraigned in Worcester Central District Court on Oct. 16, 2024, on a range of charges related to child abuse, including assault and battery on a child with substantial bodily injury, permitting substantial bodily injury to a child, and multiple counts of endangerment. He has remained in state custody since that arraignment.
The indictment now moves Ortiz’s case to Worcester Superior Court, where he will be arraigned on the upgraded charges at a future date.
No further details about the children or the circumstances of the alleged abuse were released in the DA’s statement.
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