Ortiz gives Tearful Testimony in Child Murder Trial | ABC30 Fresno

kfsn

By ABC30

Wednesday, October 7, 2009

Fresno, CA Jurors also heard she was using meth while she was pregnant with all three babies.

Nancy Ortiz cried as she told jurors how she felt when she found out she was pregnant in 2004. Our cameras were not allowed to show her face in court.

Nancy Ortiz, mother said: "I hid it I hid my pregnancy."

19-years old at the time and already a mother of two young children, Ortiz testified she initially wanted to keep the baby but realized she had to give him up.

Nancy Ortiz, mother said: "My intentions were to give the baby up so it could go to a better family."

Ortiz testified she cut the baby's umbilical cord, wrapped it in a sheet and placed him on a bench in the front yard of her neighbor's house. She testified she waited for the baby to be discovered.

Nancy Ortiz, mother said: "I would just look out my garage and once I seen, the owner of the house come out and spot the bundle I knew the baby was already found"

Nancy Ortiz is on trial for murder and child endangerment. Investigators said the 23-year old Orosi woman abandoned three of her newborns between February 2005 and December 2006. The first two babies survived. The third was found dead in the back of a pickup truck.

Ortiz testified she didn't feel she could support the babies because she was constantly physically abused by her boyfriend and her parents were unsupportive.

She testified she gave birth to the babies on her bedroom floor. With the second baby, she had her boyfriend bring their kids outside so she could give birth without them knowing.

Nancy Ortiz, mother said: "my back was towards the bed and every so often Mario would come and check up on me are you done yet? Are you done yet? "

All the while, Ortiz testified she was using meth, which kept her figure thin.

Ortiz testified she gave birth to the third newborn on December 1st, 2006, three days before the baby was discovered by her neighbors. Investigators said the baby died from being out in the cold weather.

Prosecutors will cross examine Nancy Ortiz Wednesday morning; the jury could get the case as early as Wednesday.