Bay Area Tragedy: Man Accused of Drowning 4-year-old Daughter

SONOMA COUNTY, CA – A Healdsburg man has been arrested on suspicion of drowning his 4-year-old daughter, police said.

Gerardo Mendoza Ordaz, 42, was with his daughter and another child at St. John the Baptist Church at 208 W. Matheson St. before he was heard yelling for police in the back lot of the Healdsburg Police Department around 8:30 p.m. Sunday, Healdsburg police Lt. Matt Jenkins said.

Officers responded and found Ordaz holding the unresponsive girl, and medical responders gave her CPR. The girl was taken to a hospital where she was later pronounced dead, Jenkins said.

An autopsy will determine the cause of the girl's death, but investigators believe she drowned, Jenkins said.

"Officers learned that Ordaz was with his daughter and another child at St. John’s Church just prior," police said. "An autopsy has been scheduled to determine the cause and manner of death; however, it is believed that the female drowned."

Ordaz was booked into Sonoma County Jail on suspicion of murder.

ALSO SEE:

• Recently Listed: Are You Ready to Be a Landlord?
• Testarossa Winery to Open New Tasting Room

--Bay City News/Image by Renee Schiavone, Patch