Father charged in drowning of daughter in baptismal font

Gerardo Mendoza Ordaz, 42, was arrested by police on suspicion of drowning his 4-year-old daughter. Gerardo Mendoza Ordaz, 42, was arrested by police on suspicion of drowning his 4-year-old daughter. Photo: Healdsburg Police Department / Healdsburg Police Department Photo: Healdsburg Police Department / Healdsburg Police Department Image 1 of / 1 Caption Close Father charged in drowning of daughter in baptismal font 1 / 1 Back to Gallery

The 4-year-old girl who police say was drowned by her father in a baptismal font inside a Catholic church in Healdsburg over the weekend, was identified Tuesday — hours before her father was arraigned on murder charges and ordered to undergo a psychiatric evaluation.

The Sonoma County Coroner’s Office identified the slain child as Maria Jose Ordaz-Chavarria, who had been living in an unincorporated area of Healdsburg with her family — including her father, Gerardo Mendoza Ordaz.

Ordaz, 42, was arraigned Tuesday in Sonoma County Superior Court on one count of murder and felony assault on a child. He was also charged with a misdemeanor count of cruelty to a child, stemming from having his 9-year-old son present when he allegedly killed his daughter, said Joe Langenbahn, spokesman for the Sonoma County district attorney’s office.

Though he was arraigned Tuesday, Ordaz’s ensuing criminal proceedings were suspended until Monday, while he undergoes a full medical and psychiatric evaluation. He faces life in prison if convicted.

Officers said they encountered a naked Ordaz screaming for help in the back parking lot of the police station around 8:30 p.m. Sunday, clutching his daughter’s limp, wet body. The man’s young son — who was not injured — was partially clothed and standing near his father and unresponsive sister, said Healdsburg Police Chief Kevin Burke.

The boy was the sole witness to his sister’s drowning, police said.

Police began cardiopulmonary resuscitation at the scene and called for medics. Maria was pronounced dead at a local hospital about 90 minutes later, officials said.

Investigators believe Ordaz, who was arrested Monday, took his son and daughter inside the unlocked St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in the 200 block of West Matheson Street, where they say he drowned the little girl inside the baptismal font that had about a foot of water in it.

Maria lived with her father, her mother and siblings in a house just outside Healdsburg, police said.

In a brief statement posted on the Healdsburg church’s website, the pastor, the Rev. Sean Rogers, asked for prayers for the family and the parish community.

“Sunday night there was tragedy in the church; a little girl lost her life.” Rogers said. “When police finish the investigation, we will know more.”

The homicide was the small and quiet town’s first since late 2008.

Michael Bodley is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: mbodley@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @michael_bodley