Merced County father ordered to stand trial in death of infant son

A 26-year-old Merced County father has been ordered to stand trial for murder in connection with the death of his 9-month-old son, according to Merced Superior Court records.

Andrew L. Sanchez has pleaded not guilty to murder and child abuse for the March 5 death of his son, Maddix Ramsour, at a home in the 3000 block of Cottonwood Road in Gustine.

He was ordered to stand trial following a preliminary hearing Friday before Judge Ronald W. Hansen. Sanchez is due back in court on Dec. 3 for a bail review and other proceedings, according to court records.

Sanchez was arrested in July after a four-month investigation by the Merced County Sheriff’s Office.

Deputies have not commented on the circumstances of the child’s death or said what may have been the motive in the case.

Prosecutors and defense attorneys were not available for comment Tuesday.

Sanchez was watching the child while the boy’s mother attended college classes in Los Banos, deputies said.

Sanchez said the child was hurt when he fell off a bed, but Dr. Mark Super, the Merced County pathologist, told detectives the boy’s injuries were “not consistent” with that explanation, investigators have said.

Sanchez remains in custody at the John Latorraca Correctional Facility in lieu of $1 million bail, according to booking records.

This story was originally published November 24, 2015 at 4:13 PM with the headline "Merced County father ordered to stand trial in death of infant son."