Toddler's Death Ruled Homicide
Mesa County, Colo. -- Deputies arrested Isaac Paul Ortiz, 21, of Grand Junction this evening in connection with the death of 2-year-old, Lyla Blackwood. Deputies and medical personnel with the Grand Junction Fire Department were called to the home of Ortiz and Blackwood's mother, on the night of July 29, 2015, for the child. She was reported unresponsive and rushed to a local hospital where she was pronounced deceased.
Dr. Dean Havlik, the Mesa County Coroner, conducted an autopsy, and today ruled Blackwood's death a homicide from blunt force injuries of the head and neck. Investigators obtained a no bond warrant for Ortiz's arrest on one count each of child abuse resulting in death (class 2 felony) and murder in the second degree (class 2 felony).
A booking photo will be provided here upon the completion of the booking process, which typically takes several hours. For updated information on any inmate currently in our detention facility, visit our Inmate Inquiry System webpage.
Media requesting the arrest affidavit should send an email to Heather Benjamin.
