Delaware County Daily Times - Aug 26, 1999 Article #2

Ribbons hung for missing girl

Delaware County Daily Times (Primos - Upper Darby, PA) - Thursday, August 26, 1999

LOWER CHICHESTER -- Pink ribbons and bows for missing Katelyn Rivera-Helton were tied yesterday around the stair railing leading into the home of her grandparents.

Grandfather Frank Helton confirmed in a brief telephone conversation that they were posted for his 20-month-old granddaughter.

Though Helton's daughter Jennifer had been talking to the press since Katelyn's Aug. 10 disappearance, she's virtually holed herself up in the Sharpless Road house since meeting with Katelyn 's father and accused kidnapper Robert N. Rivera at the county prison Tuesday night.

A source said the Helton family was told not to talk about the investigation while the whereabouts of Katelyn remained unknown.

District Justice Rocco Gaspari was following a self-imposed gag order for that very same reason yesterday.

He did say that in his heart, he felt that Katelyn was alive and thriving and would be found. In previous interviews, Jennifer Helton said she's trying to maintain those same sentiments.

Rivera and Helton appeared in Gaspari's court early Aug. 10. Rivera , charged Aug. 1 with assaulting Helton while she tried to removed some belongings from an apartment, waived the hearing. At the time, Rivera was free on his own recognizance under $50,000 bail.

It would be a few hours before Gaspari would learn that Rivera took off with Katelyn shortly after the hearing. Two days later, Gaspari upped the bail to $100,000.

""Everything that was done, everything that took place was all done in conforming with the laws of this court,'' he said.

Gaspari has had little involvement in baby kidnapping probe. But he has seen Rivera in his court before in the last two years.

None of the offenses involved either Helton nor the child, he said. One case he recalled was for disorderly conduct.

When Helton decided to obtain a protection from abuse order from Rivera , she bypassed the district court level and went straight to Media.

Others holding out hope for Katelyn 's safe return prepared for a benefit Saturday in Ridley Township so that the Heltons can offer a reward for information leading to Katelyn .

For tickets to the 7-11 p.m. fundraiser at the R.S. Club in the Woodlyn Shopping Center, call 610-494-1599. Donations to the reward fund can also be made to P.O. Box 1867, Boothwyn, PA 19061 or sent to the Sun East Federal Credit Union, 201 Pennell Road, Aston, PA 19014.