Delaware County Daily Times - Aug 15, 1999 Article

D.A.: Baby Katlelyn still missing

Delaware County Daily Times (Primos - Upper Darby, PA) - Sunday, August 15, 1999

Author: JILL BELDING ; Of the Times Staff

UPPER CHICHESTER -- After six days, there's still no trace of tiny Katelyn Selena Rivera-Helton.

Her father, Robert N. Rivera, is accused of kidnapping his 20-month-old daughter on Tuesday. He told police he gave her to a couple he met at Longwood Gardens that night.

He's been in jail since Wednesday on kidnapping and protection from abuse violations.

The FBI, county detectives and township police continue to investigate Katelyn's disappearance. As of last night, there was no new information.

""Investigators continue to pursue leads, in-state and out-of-state,'' said Delaware County District Attorney Patrick Meehan.

Olga Helton, Katelyn's maternal grandmother, confirmed there have been no new developments in the case.

After arriving the Heltons' home on Sharpless Road, Rivera claimed to know Katelyn's whereabouts.

The little girl was taken from a babysitter by Rivera after he assaulted Jennifer Helton, the baby's mother, at a nearby convenience store, police have said.

A split between Rivera and Helton occurred when Helton moved to her parents' home two weeks ago. Helton alleges previous incidents of violence. Tuesday morning, the two had been in a hearing on charges that Rivera assaulted Helton on July 30.

Rivera described the couple he gave the baby to as a white woman, 20-30 years old, 5 feet 7 inches tall, with dark eyes and straight brown hair and a white male in his late 30s, 5 feet 10 inches tall, with a heavy build, short dark hair and sideburns, driving a Dodge caravan with Maryland license plates.