Shocking Discovery: Mom Finds Baby with Disturbing ‘Red Lines’ at Babysitter’s – Police Investigate

A babysitter in Florida is facing allegations of assaulting an infant, leaving the child with bruises and “four distinct red lines resembling a slap mark.”

Viviana Ortiz-Lopez, 30, has been charged with child abuse without causing severe bodily harm. According to a probable cause arrest affidavit obtained by Law&Crime from the Marion County Sheriff’s Office, the infant sustained “significant facial bruising.” The child’s father reported that his wife noticed the injuries after picking up their daughter from Ortiz-Lopez’s residence around 1 p.m. on Tuesday, as noted in the affidavit.

Ortiz-Lopez allegedly claimed to the mother that the baby had caused the injuries to herself. She reportedly suggested that the mother should provide mittens to prevent the baby from self-injury.

Once home, the mother documented the injuries with photographs. The father subsequently contacted law enforcement and handed over the images.

“From the photos, I observed apparent bruising on the victim’s left cheek,” the police noted. “There were also four distinct red lines consistent with a slap mark. Additionally, the victim’s nose showed signs of swelling and bruising extending to beneath her eyes.”

According to the affidavit, the mother dropped the girl off at Ortiz-Lopez’s home in the 1300 block of SE 41st Court in Summerfield around 8 a.m. About five hours later, Ortiz-Lopez called the mom and told her to come pick the girl up “due to her non-stop crying and not allowing the other children at the location to sleep,” deputies wrote.

The defendant “sounded desperate for her to come to come get the victim,” the affidavit said. As the mother questioned Ortiz-Lopez about the bruising, she continued to insist the baby did it to herself, according to cops.

The baby had only been going to the defendant’s home for two days after being recommended by a mutual friend. After the incident, the mom called her friend, who said she had to pull her kids out because she suspected Ortiz-Lopez was hitting the kids. The friend said she didn’t contact cops because she was fearful of the defendant, according to the affidavit.

Doctors who examined the baby at the hospital concluded the injuries were likely inflicted by an adult.

Deputies had the mother call Ortiz-Lopez while they were listening in, but the defendant continued to say she didn’t hit the baby. In an interview with investigators, Ortiz-Lopez allegedly made several “contradictory statements,” first saying the baby was covered with a blanket and she didn’t see her at first when the mother dropped her off. Then, Ortiz-Lopez said she saw the baby rubbing her face with the blanket and that is what caused the bruises.

Ortiz-Lopez “never changed her attitude” and appeared “very calm” even though she was being accused of abusing a baby.

Deputies noted that the bruising on the baby’s face was roughly the size of the defendant’s hand. She was arrested and taken to the Marion County Jail.