MARION COUNTY, Fla. – The Marion County Sheriff’s Office arrested Viviana Harumi Ortiz-Lopez, 30, on Tuesday, March 10, 2026, on a charge of felony child abuse after a baby left in her care returned home with significant bruising to the face.
Investigators responded to the parents’ home after they reported the injuries. The parents told deputies they noticed bruising to the baby’s face and nose after picking the child up from Ortiz-Lopez.
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The parents said Ortiz-Lopez told them the baby had caused the injuries to herself.
According to the Marion County Sheriff’s Office, a detective spoke with doctors and a medical professional from Kimberly’s Center, who said the injuries could not have been self-inflicted. Elliott also said the bruising appeared consistent with an adult-sized hand.
The parents told detectives Ortiz-Lopez had been recommended to them for babysitting. They said everything seemed normal when they dropped the child off, and later received a call from Ortiz-Lopez saying the baby would not stop crying and needed to be picked up.
When interviewed, Ortiz-Lopez said she regularly babysits multiple children for families in the area. Detectives say she gave several contradictory statements when confronted about the infant’s injuries.
Ortiz-Lopez was arrested and transported to the Marion County Jail, where she is being held without bond.
Anyone who believes their child may have been a victim is asked to contact Detective Elliott at 352-368-3847.