Delaware County Daily Times - Aug 13, 1999 Article

Cops hunt for missing baby

Delaware County Daily Times (Primos - Upper Darby, PA) - Friday, August 13, 1999

Author: SETH AGULNICKOf the Times Staff

UPPER CHICHESTER -- A man who police say assaulted his estranged girlfriend and then kidnapped the couple's 20-month-old daughter has surrendered, but the toddler has yet to be found.

Robert N. Rivera told investigators that he went to Longwood Gardens in Chester County Tuesday night and gave his daughter to a couple he met there, but doesn't know who they are, authorities said yesterday.

The FBI and detectives from the county Criminal Investigation Division have been called in to assist township police in tracking down little Katelyn Rivera-Helton, who has been missing since 11 a.m. Tuesday.

District Attorney Patrick L. Meehan wouldn't say whether police believe Rivera's story, but did note that no one has called to report seeing a man trying to give away a baby at Longwood Gardens.

""His story has not been corroborated by anyone,'' Meehan said. ""This is the representation given by the father.''

Still, detectives released a sketch of the woman who supposedly agreed to take Katelyn, based on Rivera's description of her. Rivera, of Upper Chichester, told police the woman and her male companion drove off in a dark green Dodge Caravan with Maryland license plates.

The baby's mother, 26-year-old Jennifer Helton of Boothwyn, fought back sobs yesterday as she spoke about the ordeal.

""It's horrible. She means the world to me,'' Helton said. ""I just want her back. I'm just trying to be strong for her.''

Upper Chichester Police Chief William Robinson said authorities are trying to retrace Rivera's steps since he barged into the home of his daughter's babysitter and ran out with the little girl.

Rivera was last seen near routes 1 and 100 in Chester County around 8 p.m. Tuesday night.

""We, obviously, are very concerned about the welfare of the child,'' Robinson said.

Rivera, 33, calmly surrendered to police Wednesday afternoon, showing up at the home of Helton's parents on Sharpless Road in Upper Chichester. Police were already there and arrested him without incident.

He was arraigned by District Justice Rocco Gaspari on a litany of charges, including kidnapping, assault and violating a protection from abuse order.

That protection order, signed by Rivera and Helton just last week, required Rivera to stay away from Helton's home and the hair salon where she works, as well as from his daughter's daycare.

The order allowed him daily phone calls to his daughter and supervised visits with her.

Helton had sought the protection order after a July 30 incident in which Rivera allegedly assaulted her as she tried to remove some belongings from an apartment.

"She told the officer she thought he was going to kill her,'' Robinson said.

Rivera was arrested Aug. 1 for that incident and charged with simple assault, reckless endangerment, terroristic threats, harassment and stalking and related offenses.

Police say the latest saga began to unfold Tuesday morning, when Rivera was scheduled for a preliminary hearing in Linwood District Court on those charges. Rivera waived the hearing, sending the case to trial in Media.

But shortly after appearing in court, Rivera confronted Helton in a Wawa parking lot on Chichester Avenue. Police said he grabbed her by the throat and dragged her around by her hair before being pulled off.

Rivera told Helton during the struggle that none of this would be happening if she'd just talk to him, according to the complaint Helton filed.

Five minutes later, Rivera showed up at his daughter's daycare on Second Avenue, scooped up Katelyn and drove off, police said. He wasn't seen again until about 2 p.m. Wednesday, when he surrendered.

Rivera is now being held in the Delaware County prison on $100,000 cash bail. A preliminary hearing is tentatively scheduled for next week on the kidnapping charges.

Police are asking anyone who may have seen Rivera and the baby near Longwood Gardens Tuesday night to call them at (610) 892-8400 or the FBI at (215) 418-4000.

The description of the couple to whom Rivera says he gave Katelyn is as follows: A white woman, 20-30 years old, 5 feet 7 inches tall, 130 pounds, with dark eyes and straight brown hair; and a white man in his late 30s, 5 feet 10 inches tall with a heavy build, short dark hair and sideburns.