Babysitter Arrested in Marion County for Felony Child Abuse

MARION COUNTY, FL (352today.com) – On Tuesday, March 10, 2026, Marion County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO) Major Crimes Detective Zachary Elliott arrested Viviana Harumi Ortiz-Lopez (DOB: 12/02/1995) on a charge of Felony Child Abuse after a baby left in her care returned home with significant bruising to her face.

MCSO Deputy Hill responded to the victim’s home and spoke with the parents, who advised that after picking their baby up from the babysitter, Ortiz-Lopez, they noticed bruising to the baby’s face and nose. When they asked Ortiz-Lopez about the injuries, she told them the baby had caused the injuries to herself. After seeing the victim, Deputy Hill advised the parents to take the baby to the hospital for evaluation and contacted Major Crimes detectives to continue the investigation.

While at the hospital, MCSO Major Crimes Detective Elliott spoke with doctors and a medical professional from Kimberly’s Center, both of whom stated the injuries could not have been self-inflicted. Detective Elliott also noted that the bruising appeared to be consistent with an adult-sized hand.

During interviews, the victim’s parents informed Detective Elliott that Ortiz-Lopez had been recommended to them for babysitting services. When they dropped their baby off, everything appeared normal until they later received a call from Ortiz-Lopez stating their child would not stop crying and that they needed to come pick her up. When they arrived, they noticed significant bruising on the baby’s face.

When Detective Elliott interviewed Ortiz-Lopez, she stated that she regularly babysits multiple children for
families in the area. When confronted with the baby’s injuries, she provided several contradictory statements.

Ortiz-Lopez was arrested and transported to the Marion County Jail, where she is currently being held without bond. Due to Ortiz-Lopez providing babysitting services for numerous families, detectives believe there may be additional victims. Anyone who believes their child may have been a victim is asked to contact Detective Elliott at 352-368-3847.