Babysitter charged in infant’s death turns 20 in jail

By Neal Putnam

Bail was set at $1.5 million for a babysitter who was also the boyfriend of a Ramona mother whose 8-month-old daughter died from an apparent assault on July 4.

David Humberto Ortiz turned 20 years old Sunday in the George Bailey Detention Facility.

Ortiz pleaded not guilty July 11 to murder and assault on a child causing death. The victim, Liliana Velasquez, suffered an injury shortly before 11:30 a.m. on July 4 while in Ortiz’s care in the 2600 block of Southern Oak Road in Ramona, reported San Diego County Sheriff’s Department.

Deputy District Attorney Fiona Khalil said the girl died from “blunt force trauma” and her brain was deprived of oxygen. She was declared brain dead at Rady Children’s Hospital on July 5, and her life support was removed on July 6.

Khalil said the girl also suffered a fracture to her leg. She had asked El Cajon Superior Court Judge Charles Ervin to set no bail.

A July 24 preliminary hearing was set. Ortiz is on probation for a prior grand theft conviction, according to records.