Family Needs Financial Help After Mother Kills Infant and Injures Toddler

UPLAND, Calif. – The family of 7-month-old Ezlynn Xariah Ortega and 17-month-old, Jerricho Ortega are distraught about the shocking incident that took place on Tuesday.

Tierra Ortega, 24, of Upland, at around 11:30 a.m. swung her 17-month-old son over the 2nd story apartment home landing as the baby cried. A resident heard the screaming of the toddler, called 911, and looked out to see the Tierra Ortega dangling the boy over the landing guardrail. She let the small child go and he fell to the ground causing injury, including a broken foot and other minor injuries. As officers arrived, they went to the aid of the injured boy as Tierra Ortega jumped off the landing head first, according to police officials. Shortly after she got up and was handcuffed and taken to San Antonio Hospital prior to being booked at the West Valley Detention Center.

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Jerricho was also rushed to San Antonio hospital. As officers tended to the toddler and the woman, they cleared her apartment home and found Ezlynn unresponsive and not breathing. Ezlynn was also rushed to San Antonio and both her and her brother were then airlifted to Loma Linda University Medical Center, where she was pronounced deceased as a result of her injuries.

The community is shocked about what occurred in their usually quiet neighborhood and those who were familiar with Tierra have expressed the same shock. The Upland Police Department has asked those who would like to help the family with funeral expenses for Ezlynn and recovery expenses for Jerricho to dine at either MOD Pizza locations in Upland. The fundraiser will benefit the Ortega family during this difficult time. All proceeds collected by the Upland Police Department will go directly to the Ortega family. The MOD Pizza fundraiser will be all day on Wednesday, March 6, 2019, and 30% of each bill will go to support the Ortega family.

They Upland Police Department has also opened a Paypal account for anyone who would like to make a donation to the Ortega Family.

Since the incident information was released, talk of both Postpartum Depression and Postpartum Psychosis have been a subject of discussion. Andrea Yates is one of the first instances where the public heard of the terms, making the symptoms more talked about. Yates was a Houston, Texas woman who on June 20, 2001, drowned her five children in the bathtub. Yates children were all young, between the ages of 6-months-old to 7-years-old. Yates was diagnosed with severe postpartum depression, postpartum psychosis and Schizophrenia.

Since at the time these mental health diagnoses were not widely talked about, Yates was convicted of Capital Murder and was sentenced to life in prison. The verdict was overturned after an appeal. There was a retrial and Yates was found not guilty by reason of insanity and was committed to North Texas State Hospital, in 2006, and later, in 2007 Kerrville State Hospital, a low-security state mental hospital.

American Psychology association said that 1 in 7 new mothers experience postpartum depression. These symptoms can appear days or months after the delivery of a baby and can last weeks or even months if not treated.

Postpartum Psychosis is a rare illness, affecting around 1-2 of every 1000 deliveries – .1 – .2% of births. The onset is usually sudden and begin most often in the first 2 weeks of delivery. Postpartum Support International said that a personal or family history of bipolar disorder or a family history of bipolar disorder are risk factors. Although most women do not hurt themselves or others, there is a risk due to psychosis which includes delusional thinking and irrational judgement. The condition is temporary and treatable but must be quickly assessed, treated and monitored by a mental health professional.