HEALDSBURG (KRON) — The Healdsburg father accused of drowning his 4-year-old daughter in a baptismal pool appeared in court on Tuesday afternoon.
Gerardo Mendoza Ordaz, 42, was in a wheelchair when he appeared in court at 1:30 p.m.
Ordaz appeared upset throughout the proceedings and cried prior to his case being called.
He did not enter a plea.
The criminal proceedings were put on hold, so Ordaz’s health could be evaluated by a doctor.
The judge refused to grant bail.
Ordaz will be back in court on December 28th at 8:30 a.m.
Arraignment delayed until dec 28 so suspect in healdsburg drowning can get medical evaluation @kron4news https://t.co/B6yeRtIVGd
— Dan Kerman (@DanKermanSF) November 22, 2016
He was arrested for allegedly drowning his daughter, 4-year-old Maria Jose Ordaz-Chavarria, in a baptismal pool at St. John’s Catholic Church in Healdsburg around 8:30 p.m. Sunday.
Officers learned of the incident when Ordaz ran across the street to the police department carrying his lifeless daughter and crying out for help.
Police say he was naked when he arrived at the police department with his daughter and his 9-year-old son.
Ordaz has been charged with murder for his daughter’s death and infliction of emotional distress for having his son there at the time of the alleged incident.
A GoFundMe page has been set up for Maria’s family.
