Delaware County Daily Times - Aug 29, 1999 Article

Friends raise funds for Katelyn reward

Delaware County Daily Times (Primos - Upper Darby, PA) - Sunday, August 29, 1999

Author: ROSE QUINN ; Of the Times Staff

RIDLEY TOWNSHIP -- It had all the makings of a party: food, libations and music.

But without 20-month-old guest of honor Katelyn Rivera-Helton, the mood was anything but festive last night at the RS Club in the Woodlyn Shopping Center.

Dubbed a ""Bring Katelyn Home'' fund raiser, about 250 tickets were sold at $15 a head or $25 a couple to provide Jennifer Helton, 26, of Upper Chichester with cash to offer as reward for information leading to her daughter's return.

Three weeks ago Tuesday, Helton's ex-boyfriend and Katelyn 's father, Robert N. Rivera, assaulted Helton in a convenience store parking lot and then swiped the toddler from nearby daycare, according to authorities.

Rivera is being held in the county prison while the FBI, county detectives and local police continue the search.

When Rivera was apprehended by police a day after the kidnapping, he told them he'd given his daughter away to a couple he met at Longwood Gardens.

He told investigators he doesn't know who they are or where police can find them, but offered descriptions and said they were driving a minivan with Maryland license plates.

To date, police say they've been unable to independently verify that story.

A river, woods and construction site have been searched in Maryland, where Rivera visited some friends the night of the kidnapping. But nothing's turned up.

Olga Helton, Katelyn 's grandmother, conceded it was difficult for her and the family to put on a happy face at such a desperate time.

""If it brings Katie back, it's worth it,'' she said.

The grandmother also said that no words could convey their thanks for the countless good wishes and prayers offered since Katelyn disappeared.

""Honestly, it's what keeps us going,'' she said.

Outside the club hung a huge poster board with a photo of Katelyn . It was signed by dozens of people.

Many who turned out wore pink bows on their shirts that RS manager Annemarie Jowder made.

Jowder, who works with Helton at a hair salon, met Katelyn a few times.

""All money raised will go toward the reward,'' Jowder said, noting that she hopes to have a final count of the proceeds by today.

The Helton family arrived about an hour before the 7 p.m. start, accompanied by a Catholic priest who had been asked by a friend of Helton's to come and offer a blessing.

The family has declined comment on the investigation since Jennifer Helton met with Rivera at the prison last week. She kept a very low profile at the event.

Marcy Neal of Aston and Becky Poyner of Elmer, N.J., have known Jennifer Helton for about 12 years.

Simply, ""we're here for support,'' said Neal.

A woman who identified herself only as Joanne was a stranger to the Heltons until last night.

She came to offer good wishes.

""I'm hoping everything turns out okay,'' she said.

Jaci Morris, a child advocate with the non-profit Community Housing and Human Relations Board, had been keeping up with news on Katelyn and decided to come to the benefit when she read about it on a bulletin board.

Calling the kidnapping a community tragedy, Morris was disappointed that there was not a line of people to get inside the club.

Along with the benefit, donation jars have been distributed around Katelyn 's hometown.

To donate money for the reward, make a check out to the Katelyn Rivera-Helton Reward Fund and send it to P.O. Box 1867, Boothwyn, PA 19061.

Checks can also be made out to the Sun East Federal Credit Union and sent to the bank at 201 Pennell Road, Aston, PA 19014.

Some food -- beef and rolls -- was donated by Aston venders, including Shop 'N Bag, Super Fresh, Sam & Sam's, Family Meat Market, Wawa and Bueno Brothers. The rest -- stuffed shells and rigatoni, meatballs, chicken, stuffed peppers and fresh fruit -- was prepared at the club.

Music was compliments of DJ Johnny Lights.