Father implicated in baby's death

FRESNO – Disturbing details about the death of a 2-month-old baby, allegedly by her own father, came to light after the results of a search warrant were made public Thursday.

The warrant asserted that 20-year-old Jorge Hernandez was trying to comfort his daughter when she became cranky and fussy. He said he accidentally dropped her on the floor, then picked her up, shook her four or five times, and finally threw her against a bedroom wall in frustration.

The assault occurred at the home of Hernandez and the baby’s mother, Luisa Perez, in Fresno, according to the warrant.

The baby girl was admitted to the hospital Nov. 5 with severe injuries and had to be put on life support.

“Detectives from the sexual assault unit were called out and they determined through their investigation that the father, Jorge Hernandez, had been responsible for injuring the baby,” said Chris Curtice, spokesman for the Fresno County Sheriff’s Department.

Hernandez was arrested on abuse charges and then released on bail. He was arrested again on Nov. 10, the same day his daughter was taken off life support and died. An autopsy revealed the baby’s death was due to blunt-force trauma.

Hernandez pleaded not guilty to felony child abuse leading to the baby’s death. A hearing on the case is scheduled for Dec. 16.