‘A real tragedy’: 4-year-old girl suffered chronic neglect before death; father arrested: authorities

WORCESTER, Mass. (WCVB) - A child welfare agency in Massachusetts says it is reviewing its policies following a new report on the death of a 4-year-old girl in 2024.

Her father has been charged with her death, and the agency says it will make some changes to protect children better.

According to the Massachusetts Office of Child Advocate, it does not lay blame on any individuals employed by the Massachusetts Department of Children and Families. However, the state agency lacked necessary policies and quality controls in the years leading up to the toddler’s death.

Leaders at the Massachusetts child advocate released the findings of its investigation into what happened inside the family’s apartment in Worcester, where 4-year-old A’zella Ortiz allegedly died at the hands of her father.

“This was a case that was three years old with no improvement. So, this would never have happened in a case in which custody was given to the commonwealth,” Maria Mossaides, director at the Massachusetts Office of Child Advocate, said.

In the 12 months leading up to A’zella’s death in October 2024, DCF closed the case, believing that the family was living in New York.

“There was a year in which the DCF did not know that they were back in Massachusetts,” Mossaides said.

Officials with DCF responded to the report, writing a statement in part:

“We will address the concerns raised by the OCA, including reviewing our policy when we are considering closing a case, assessing training needs, and providing clearer guidance on assessing families for risk factors commonly associated with child abuse and neglect.”

Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey also responded to the OCA report.

“The death of this little girl A’zella is a real tragedy. I really appreciate the work of the Office of Child Advocate,” she said.

In June, a Worcester County grand jury handed up indictments against A’zella’s father, Francisco Ortiz, accusing him of murdering her at the apartment and abusing her two siblings.

Worcester police found A’zella bruised, malnourished and unresponsive.

Francisco Ortiz is facing several charges, including assault and battery on a child with substantial injury and reckless endangerment of a child.

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