A disturbing child abuse case in Florida has led to the arrest of a babysitter accused of harming an infant in her care. Authorities say the child suffered visible bruising on her face that appeared to match the marks of a slap. The case has raised serious concerns about child safety and the responsibility of caregivers.
Florida Babysitter Arrested for Alleged Child Abuse
Police in Florida have arrested 30-year-old Viviana Ortiz-Lopez on charges of child abuse without great bodily harm. According to the Marion County Sheriff’s Office, the babysitter is accused of striking an infant in the face, leaving visible bruises and marks.
Authorities reported that the baby had “significant bruising” on her face, which raised immediate concern when her parents noticed the injuries.
The alleged incident happened in Summerfield, Florida, where the child had been left in the babysitter’s care for several hours.
Parents Notice Bruises on Baby’s Face
According to the police affidavit, the baby’s mother dropped her off at Ortiz-Lopez’s home around 8 a.m. on Tuesday. The house is located in the 1300 block of SE 41st Court in Summerfield.
About five hours later, the babysitter called the mother and asked her to pick up the child. She reportedly said the baby would not stop crying and was disturbing the other children in the home.
When the mother arrived around 1 p.m., she immediately noticed bruising on the infant’s face.
The babysitter allegedly told the mother that the baby had caused the injuries herself. She even suggested that the parents should bring mittens for the child in the future so the baby would not scratch her own face.
Photos Show Possible Slap Marks
After returning home, the parents took photos of the baby’s injuries and contacted police.
According to investigators, the images showed clear bruising on the child’s left cheek. Deputies also noticed four distinct red lines that appeared to match the shape of a slap mark.
Police also reported swelling on the baby’s nose along with bruising that extended under the eyes.
The father later provided the photos to law enforcement as evidence.
Doctors Believe Injuries Were Caused by an Adult
The infant was taken to a hospital where doctors examined her injuries.
Medical professionals told investigators that the bruising was likely caused by an adult rather than the baby herself. Their findings raised serious doubts about the babysitter’s explanation that the child injured herself.
Investigators also noted that the bruising appeared to be roughly the size of the babysitter’s hand.
Babysitter Gave Conflicting Statements
During the investigation, deputies asked the baby’s mother to call Ortiz-Lopez while officers listened to the conversation. The babysitter continued to deny hitting the child.
However, when investigators later interviewed her, she reportedly gave several contradictory statements.
At first, Ortiz-Lopez said the baby was covered with a blanket when she arrived and that she did not notice her immediately.
Later, she claimed that the baby had been rubbing her face against the blanket, which she said caused the bruising.
According to deputies, Ortiz-Lopez remained calm throughout the questioning and did not change her attitude even while being accused of hurting the infant.
Friend Previously Had Concerns About Babysitter
The baby had only been going to the babysitter’s home for two days before the incident occurred.
The parents had chosen Ortiz-Lopez after receiving a recommendation from a mutual friend.
However, after seeing the baby’s injuries, the mother contacted the friend again. The friend reportedly said she had previously removed her own children from the babysitter’s care because she suspected Ortiz-Lopez of hitting them.
The friend also told police that she did not report her concerns earlier because she was afraid of the babysitter.
Babysitter Taken Into Custody
Following the investigation, deputies arrested Ortiz-Lopez on suspicion of child abuse without great bodily harm.
She was taken into custody and transported to the Marion County Jail.
Authorities continue to investigate the case as they review the evidence and statements collected during the inquiry.
