Mother arrested in infant's death

ALBUQUERQUE (KRQE) - An Albuquerque mother is behind bars Friday, accused of beating her infant daughter to death.

The girl, who was about to turn one, was found dead in her own home just days before Christmas.

Police arrested 21-year-old June Ortega, who they say is the baby’s mother, Thursday night and charged her with child abuse resulting in death.

On December 21st police responded to Ortega’s apartment in Northwest Albuquerque where they found the baby, who they say had blue lips and wasn’t breathing.  Efforts to revive the girl failed and she was pronounced dead.
    
An autopsy later revealed that the girl had four skull fractures and hemorrhages in her chest and stomach.  Doctors say it appears as if she was hit with a hammer-like object.

Ortega is not believed to have a criminal record in Albuquerque - but she also has an address listed in Santa Fe.

Investigators say this tragedy is a clear cut case of abuse.

“The amount of trauma is overwhelming.  OMI ruled that this is without a doubt, a homicide.  The injuries could not have been accidentally in nature,” Officer Tasia Martinez with APD told KRQE News 13.

Ortega allegedly told investigators she was the child’s only caretaker and that the child never left her side.  Investigators are currently talking to neighbors and friends, who were at Ortega’s home, the night before the child died.

Police are currently looking for Ortega’s live-in boyfriend, 18-year-old Emilio Torres, who has a warrant out for his arrest in a separate matter.  They would like to question Torres on the child’s death.