Delaware County Daily Times - Aug 17, 1999 Article

Father's story falling apart

Delaware County Daily Times (Primos - Upper Darby, PA) - Tuesday, August 17, 1999

Author: JILL BELDING ; Of the Times Staff

UPPER CHICHESTER -- It's been a week since Robert N. Rivera snatched his 20-month-old daughter from her babysitter.

A day later, Rivera reappeared with a story -- but no Katelyn.

Since then, police have been working to find the 23-pound toddler.

They started with Rivera's version of events: He took his daughter to Longwood Gardens in Kennett Square, Chester County. He gave Katelyn to a couple he met there. Rivera even provided authorities with a description of the couple and their vehicle.

Police don't believe Rivera is being completely candid about his daughter's whereabouts.

In fact, they learned he lied about at least one thing: He went to Maryland after hitting Katelyn's mother, Jennifer Helton, at a nearby convenience store, and snatching Katelyn Selena Rivera-Helton from her sitter's home.

Rivera has been jailed since Wednesday afternoon and faces a preliminary hearing at 9 a.m. today before District Justice Rocco Gaspari on kidnapping charges.

Meanwhile, detectives are probing Cecil County, Md., for clues about Katelyn's whereabouts, said District Attorney Patrick Meehan.

Police were alerted to the possibility Rivera may have traveled to Maryland after assaulting Helton. Since then, the lead has been corroborated, Meehan said.

""We will continue to pursue all reasonable leads,'' Meehan said.

Rivera's account of Tuesday evening's events has yet to be substantiated. Katelyn and Rivera were last seen together about 7:30 p.m. Tuesday at a gas station in Chester County.

""We're still working very hard to find this little girl,'' said FBI Special Agent Robert Norton.

As police examine out-of-state locations, Helton continues to ponder how close by her daughter might be. After kidnapping Katelyn, Rivera was seen throughout the Upper Chichester neighborhood.

""He has (friends) around here,'' Helton said.

Helton and Rivera also had friends in Elkton, Md., but Helton said last night that she hasn't been in contact with them because the friends didn't have a telephone.

She said she has thought many times over the past few days about driving down to Elkton, but she said with everything going on she just hasn't had the chance to do it.

The distraught mom said police officials haven't ruled out the possibility that Rivera left the toddler with those same friends in Elkton.

Last Tuesday, Rivera frequently called Helton at her parents' house, detailing his and Katelyn's moves.

Initially, the calls frightened Helton, especially the first call when Rivera spoke of visiting a dead friend. She was even more terrified when Rivera said he'd probably end up in Hell, and Katelyn would go to Heaven.

But as he shifted to speaking about his and Katelyn's activities, Jennifer found it comforting knowing her little girl was alright. She was even able to talk to her daughter once on the telephone.

When Rivera showed up alone about 2 p.m. Wednesday at the home of Helton's parents, he offered to take Jennifer to see Katelyn if Helton got into his car.

Rivera has yet to inform Helton or the authorities where Katelyn is. Helton even went to police station, at Rivera's request, to ask, ""Where's Katelyn?''

The agony will likely worsen today when Helton walks into the courtroom and has to look at Rivera one more time. She admits she's not looking forward to seeing Rivera.

""I'm fearful of him, oh yeah,'' Helton said. ""I definitely think he knows where Katelyn is. He's doing this to hurt me. I don't get it. He's upset because he's not getting to see her every day. I made sure he got to see her once a week. He didn't want it to be over between us. Things just didn't go the way he wanted, and now he's doing this.''

Although the Helton family is grateful for all the support they are receiving, Jennifer Helton said the only thing on her mind is getting her daughter back.

""I haven't been sleeping too well at all,'' Helton said softly.

Anyone with information regarding the case is asked to contact Upper Chichester Police at (610) 485-8400; Delaware County Detectives at (610) 891-4700, or at (610) 892-8400 after 4:30 p.m.; or the Philadelphia Division of the FBI at (215) 418-4000.