Delaware County Daily Times - Aug 12, 1999 Article

Baby missing, father sought

Delaware County Daily Times (Primos - Upper Darby, PA) - Thursday, August 12, 1999

Author: SETH AGULNICK; Of the Times Staff

UPPER CHICHESTER -- Just days after signing an agreement that allowed him only supervised visits with his daughter, a township man assaulted the girl's mother and then swiped the 20-month-old from her daycare, according to court documents.

The girl remained missing yesterday, more than 24 hours after being taken. Police have filed an arrest warrant charging her father with kidnapping and assault, according to court records.

Police have refused to comment since the saga began to unfold around 10:55 a.m. Tuesday outside the Wawa market on Chichester Avenue.

That's where 33-year-old Robert N. Rivera grabbed his estranged girlfriend by the throat, pulled her out of her aunt's car and dragged her around the parking lot by her hair, according to the arrest warrant.

""I struggled, screaming, trying to get free,'' Jennifer Helton wrote in a complaint filed in district court." "He said if I would just talk to him, this wouldn't happen.... I'm afraid he will hurt (our daughter) too.''

After being pulled off Helton by her aunt and Wawa employees, Rivera fled from the parking lot and headed towards a home on Second Avenue in Upper Chichester, where his daughter, Katelyn, was being cared for.

A woman at the home told police Rivera barged in the back door, grabbed Katelyn and left, hitting the girl's head on the door jamb in his hurry to get out, according to court documents.

The two haven't been seen since.

Police would not provide a description of the girl, Rivera or the type of car he was driving. A township commissioner said he backed the police department's decision not to comment as the investigation continues.

"I've got the utmost confidence that what they're doing is going to result in the safe return of the child,'' Commissioner Bill Burland said yesterday. "It's an around-the-clock effort to bring this to a successful conclusion.''

According to court records, Rivera and Helton both signed a consent agreement Aug. 5 after Helton sought a protection from abuse order.

The agreement says Rivera can't go to Helton's home or work or to their daughter's daycare center. He's allowed to talk to his daughter on the phone once a day and can have supervised visits.

The first such visit was supposed to happen last Friday, but the court records don't indicate whether it did.

Rivera and Helton had previously lived together in the 2800 block of Chichester Avenue, which is still listed as Rivera's address. Helton has moved to another home in Boothwyn.

The consent agreement, signed by Delaware County Judge Ann Osborne, meant no hearing would be needed on the woman's request for a protection order.

The arrest warrant filed by township police charges Rivera with one count each of burglary, criminal trespass, criminal mischief, kidnapping, unlawful restraint, interfering with the custody of a child, harassment and stalking; four counts each of simple assault and aggravated assault; and five counts of reckless endangerment.