Healdsburg church drowning suspect sent to mental hospital

A Healdsburg father suspected of drowning his 4-year-old daughter in a church baptismal pool has been ordered to receive treatment at Napa State Hospital.

Gerardo Mendoza Ordaz, 42, is charged in the Nov. 20 slaying of Maria Jose Ordaz Chavarria at St. John the Baptist Church in Healdsburg.

Police believe he drowned the girl under a few feet of water as her 9-year-old brother watched. He was arrested after carrying her lifeless body to the nearby police station.

Ordaz, who was naked at the time, has yelled out at two court appearances and was distraught. He was examined by two psychologists after his lawyers expressed doubt about his mental competence.

On Wednesday, Judge Robert LaForge ordered him committed to the state hospital until his competence is restored.

Part of his treatment, which could take months, will include instruction on the criminal process. He could then be brought back to Sonoma County to be tried on a first-degree murder charge. An insanity defense could be mounted at that time.

Ordaz, a day laborer, moved with his family to Healdsburg about six months ago. The family previously lived in Sacramento.

The night of the slaying, he walked from the church across the street to the downtown police station’s rear parking lot with his son, carrying the little girl and yelling for help.

His 8:30 p.m. arrival launched an extensive but unsuccessful effort by first responders to save the girl.

Investigators believe the three set out on foot more than two hours earlier from their home at the north end of town and walked about 1½ miles ?to downtown.

Along the way, they made at least three stops - one involving the purchase of a lemonade or vitamin water-type of drink.

Police did not rule out the possibility that Ordaz believed he was conducting an exorcism.

He has a criminal record and has been deported to Mexico four times over the past 20 years.

You can reach Staff Writer Paul Payne at 707-568-5312 or paul.payne@pressdemocrat.com. ?On Twitter @ppayne.