Aurora police release details of baby’s death
Aurora police on Monday released the first pieces of information regarding the suspected homicide Dec. 18 of an 11-month-old child.
Police said Michael David Ortiz was being cared for by his mother’s 28-year-old boyfriend at 1:30 p.m. Dec. 17 at their home in the 100 block of Cross Street. The baby’s mother was at work when the boyfriend called 911 and reported the baby had stopped breathing.
Michael was taken by paramedics to Provena Mercy Center Hospital and later airlifted to Central DuPage Hospital in Winfield where he was pronounced dead at 6:10 p.m. Dec. 18.
DuPage County Chief Deputy Coroner Charlie Dastych said Monday an autopsy conducted on Dec. 19 is not yet complete but preliminary findings indicate Michael suffered traumatic injuries.
On Dec. 21, police reclassified the boy’s death a homicide.
Police spokesman Dan Ferrelli said investigators waited two months to disclose the alleged slaying because they needed more time.
“This has been an incredibly complicated investigation complete with a lot of unusual details we just can’t discuss,” Ferrelli said. “But investigators have been working very hard to garner enough evidence to secure charges against whoever is responsible for this horrific crime.”
Ferrelli declined to say who may be the target of the investigation.