Mother of Unalived Jianna Duran Hires Attorney & Confirms Alleged Pedophile Ortega Lived in Home

Mother Cassandra Perez refused to comment when asked by The Press Democrat if alleged pedophile & dog rapist Jeremiah Ortega was responsible for her daughter's death

Several weeks after I began sharing updates regarding the tragic death of 4th grade Park Side Elementary School student Jianna Duran, The Press Democrat finally published an article with further details. Within the article, they referred to me as a ‘local blogger’, cited the information I brought forth, and refused to mention my name.

Mind you, this is the same newspaper that attempted to censor me through a fraudulent restraining order in November 2024.

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“A 10-year-old Santa Rosa girl died at an Oakland hospital in February, four days after attempting to end her life.

She loved to sing — cycling through a new favorite song each week. She was into anime and dreamed of visiting Tokyo. Chocolate cake pops were her go-to treat.

“She was a vibrant individual who embraced her unique sense of style, danced to her own rhythm, often seen wearing long socks, bright colors and Kuromi accessories,” a family friend said. Kuromi is a Japanese cartoon character with a punk edge.

A fourth-grade student at Park Side Elementary in Sebastopol, the girl was found unresponsive at her grandparents’ home in Santa Rosa on Feb. 14. Despite emergency efforts and days of intensive care, she died Feb. 18.

Over the past several weeks, the child’s father and other relatives have alleged that she was sexually abused by her mother’s former partner, Jeremiah Ortega, 26, of Santa Rosa. In early April, Santa Rosa police arrested Ortega on suspicion of sexually abusing a child under 14 — a case prosecutors formally filed days later.

Separately, the Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office has opened investigations into Ortega for possession of child pornography and the sexual assault of a dog. On April 10, the District Attorney’s Office charged him with multiple felony counts, including lewd acts upon a child, animal cruelty and possession of illicit material involving minors.

Last month, a local blogger publicly linked Ortega to the child’s mother — intensifying speculation and outrage online.

The case has ignited intense debate, much of it playing out on social media — a mix of grief, accusation and, at times, misinformation. While the criminal process unfolds, the family remains divided, and the community is left asking: Who failed this child? And how can future harm be prevented?

What happened?

In a death investigation report, the Sonoma County Coroner’s Office confirmed the girl died by suicide.

She was initially treated at Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital and later transferred to UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital in Oakland, where she died. Though her death occurred in Alameda County, Sonoma County officials assumed jurisdiction because of her age and the possibility of criminal concerns.

The final autopsy, filed in late March and reviewed by The Press Democrat, found no signs of foul play or underlying medical conditions. It also did not indicate physical evidence of sexual assault.

However, experts note that many forms of abuse — including coercion, non-penetrative acts or delayed disclosures — often leave no physical trace.

In the days after her death, some family members raised concerns on social media that the girl had been bullied at school. Her mother told The Press Democrat she had brought the issue to her daughter’s teacher before her death, and said the teacher was “really good” about addressing it.

The Sebastopol Union School District has not commented on the bullying allegations but did host mental health workshops and community forums in the week after the girl’s death. It has not responded to requests for information about any further steps since.

Abuse allegations

The girl’s father, who lives in Fresno, told The Press Democrat he learned in April from a person close to the family that his daughter had allegedly been sexually abused by her mother’s former partner. He also said he was told the family had filed a complaint with police and that the girl’s grandparents had asked the man to leave their home.

Santa Rosa police said they could not disclose whether a complaint had been filed.

The Press Democrat is not naming the girl’s parents in order to protect their privacy.

The girl’s mother confirmed that Ortega had once lived with them but said he had not been in the home since 2023. The two share a 2-year-old child who remains in her care.

“I used to talk to (my daughter) on video call,” her father said. “Two weeks before she died, she started asking me to come get her. She wouldn’t tell me what was going on.”

The father said he believes Ortega abused his daughter and that the child’s mother never should have allowed him into the home.

Asked whether she believed Ortega was responsible, the girl’s mother declined to comment.

In the criminal complaint filed April 10, prosecutors charged Ortega with five counts of lewd acts upon a child under age 14, occurring between January 2021 and September 2023. He also faces charges of animal cruelty in May 2024 and possession of child pornography from this year.

The victim in the complaint is referred to only as “Jane Doe.” The family has not publicly confirmed whether that child is the 10-year-old girl at the center of this story. Authorities have not identified the child involved in the charges.

A preliminary hearing in the case is scheduled for Wednesday in Sonoma County Superior Court.

A mother’s grief

As the case moves forward, the girl’s mother has retained a Santa Rosa-based attorney to represent her. She said she’s been the target of relentless online attacks — much of it, she says, rooted in misinformation.

“It just hasn’t stopped,” she said. “Enough is enough. I am just a mom that lost a child and wants to grieve.”

Her voice breaking, she added: “I miss her very much. My parents miss her very much. I visit her every day. And it’s upsetting to see her being exposed like this. All we want is privacy and for my daughter to rest. She’s not getting that right now. It’s hard and hurtful and sad.”

She described her daughter as bright, creative and joyful — a good sister with a radiant smile and a contagious laugh.

“She didn't know this, but I pretty much grew up with her,” the mother said, remembering Friday night pizza and Wingstop dinners and Saturday morning Starbucks runs while her youngest child still slept.

The family is still mourning. Her younger child, the mother said, now kisses a photo of his sister every night before bed. Her father — the girl’s grandfather — sometimes cries while watching the news at dinner. The two were “buddies,” she said.

“I just want to wake up from this nightmare and have it all go away,” she said. “I want everyone to know that I'm a good mom. I love my kids.”

A fractured family

The girl was raised in Santa Rosa by her mother and grandparents. Her father and paternal relatives live in Fresno.

The father said he was incarcerated for most of his daughter’s life. He was present during her first year — and for her burial.

In 2023, he was sentenced in a domestic violence case in Fresno. According to the girl’s mother, their earlier relationship was marked by emotional and physical abuse.

Since her death, grief has given way to finger-pointing — and to difficult questions about how a young girl could suffer so much, so quietly.

Online claims continue to circulate — some grounded in fact, others not.

As the investigation moves forward, her loved ones and her community remain united in at least one hope: that whatever comes next leads to clarity, accountability and care for children like her.

You can reach Tarini Mehta at 707-521-5337 or tarini.mehta@pressdemocrat.com. On X (Twitter) @MehtaTarini.”

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While I have been providing updates to the public for weeks, key facts have been omitted from The Press Democrat’s summary regarding Jianna Duran’s death, and relationship to Jeremiah Ortega, her stepfather.

The following inquiries come to mind:

• Why did Jianna Duran’s mother, Ms. Cassandra Perez, need to hire an attorney if she is not guilty of child negligence?

• If Ms. Cassandra Perez truly retained an attorney, why did they permit her to speak with The Press Democrat? Typically, legal representatives advise clients not to comment on active criminal cases.

• I gave Ms. Perez, and her family the opportunity to provide statements for weeks. Why was Ms. Perez willing to share comments with The Press Democrat, but not with me?

• Why did Ms. Perez refuse to comment when asked if Mr. Jeremiah Ortega was responsible for Jianna’s death?

• Ms. Perez confirmed that Ortega had once lived with them but said he had not been in the home since 2023. Why was I informed that she obtained a Fountaingrove Apartment, and allowed Ortega to reside with her? Is it true?

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For there is nothing hid, which shall not be manifested; neither was anything kept secret, but that it should be revealed. -Mark 4:22