Delaware County Daily Times - Sept 30, 1999 Article

"I know where she is"

Delaware County Daily Times (Primos - Upper Darby, PA) - Thursday, September 30, 1999

Author: ROSE QUINN ; Of the Times Staff

Robert N. Rivera is so insistent that he's the "only one" who knows the whereabouts of his missing 21-month-old daughter, he underlined those words in a letter to the Daily Times."

I am the only one who knows the true story,'' Rivera stated in the letter, which also cautioned of "jailhouse snitches" making deals with authorities to get lighter sentences and reward money offered for the safe return of little Katelyn Rivera-Helton."

So if you hear anything from anyone else, consider it a lie,'' Rivera wrote from the county's prison, where he being held on kidnapping and related offenses pending trial. "

I know where my daughter Kathlynne is located,'' the letter continued, misspelling the toddler's name.

Last night, Delaware County District Attorney Patrick Meehan said he was pleased to hear that Rivera knows the whereabout of the Upper Chichester child who vanished 52 days ago and has been the focus of massive searches in Pennsylvania and Maryland."

I call on him to tell us where Katelyn is,'' Meehan said.

Rivera 's latest statement about the baby's whereabouts would seem to conflict with his initial account to authorities - that he gave Katelyn to a couple he met but did not know at Longwood Gardens on Aug. 10.

That same morning, Rivera barged into the home of the child's day care provider and carried her off, without food, clothing, or medication she had been taking for allergies. He later visited friends in rural Maryland, where authorities have been searching for clues. Helton had sought a protection from abuse order against Rivera days before the kidnapping. The order restricted Rivera to only supervised visits with his daughter.

Jennifer Helton, Katelyn 's mother, verified the signature as that of her jailed ex-fianc"

It's Rob's signature, but someone had to help him write the letter,'' Helton said of the hand-printed letter, adding that Rivera had about a third grade reading and writing level. "I spent four years with him. I've never seen him write a letter,'' Helton said. "I would fill out applications and any other papers."

That Rivera spelled his daughter's name wrong in the letter was no surprise to Helton. "If he was asked his Social Security number, I doubt that he would know it,'' she said.

Helton, 26, was a little surprised that Rivera hasn't written to her, especially since he continues to try to call her collect from the prison.

Early on, he called at least three times a day.

Now, the calls are more sporadic. "I just don't accept them,'' said Helton's father, Frank.

In the Sept. 23 letter, Rivera said that Meehan, the FBI and county detectives "are too anxious to make any kind of deal, right or wrong.''

Meehan said Rivera 's claims did not merit a response. "

Investigators continue to work diligently on the matter," he said of the case"

Jailhouse snitches are making deals by out- right lying about my case," wrote Rivera . "They are facing a great deal of time with their own cases. They will lie to get less time and collect the reward money."

A $10,000 reward has been posted for information leading to the return of Katelyn . Call township police at (610) 485-8400, county detectives at (610) 891-4700 or the FBI at (215) 418-4000 with any information.

Helton viewed the letter as another attempt by Rivera to defend himself, portraying himself as a good guy. At the preliminary hearing, he announced that Helton knew where the child was.

Lying has been his trademark almost since they met at Barnaby's bar and restaurant in Chadds Ford in 1996, Helton said. She concedes it took her longer than others, including her parents, to see through Rivera .

When they got engaged, Helton was thrilled with the 1-1 /2 carat diamond ring he gave her.

It was a while before she found that she wasn't the only woman who wore it.

Though she broke the engagement, Helton said she stayed with Rivera for reasons she's not sure she'll ever understand.

Among her list of problems:

He lied to her and treated her like a maid.

He used a colitis condition as an excuse not to work.

He did jail time in New York for burglary.

He has a 10-year-old child from another relationship and he has neglected that child.

And, for a long time, he managed to alienate Helton from her family. Except for the birth of Katelyn, Helton calls her involvement with Rivera a mistake."

The biggest one of my life," she said.