Delaware County Daily Times - Oct 3, 1999 Article

Katelyn reward fund hits $12G

Delaware County Daily Times (Primos - Upper Darby, PA) - Sunday, October 3, 1999

Author: ROSE QUINN ; Of the Times Staff

UPPER DARBY - Calling cash a great motivator, builder Davoud Baravordeh has increased his reward offer for information involving missing Katelyn Rivera -Helton by $2,000.

That brings his personal officer to $7,000 and the total reward offering to $12,000.

Jennifer Helton of Upper Chichester was overwhelmed by Baravordeh's generosity and concern for her 21-month-old daughter.

She planned to call him and thank him.

Baravordeh is the owner of DB Enterprise Builders. When he announced his initial reward in late August, he said he'd been touched by stories of Katelyn and the plight of her mother.

He wanted to do something as a way to give back to his community.

Katelyn, who will turn 2 on Dec. 12, has been missing since her father and jailed accused kidnapper Robert Rivera barged in to the home of her daycare provider and carried her off on Aug. 10.

Rivera, who faces trial on kidnap and related offenses, told authorities he gave Katelyn to a couple he met but did not know at Longwood Gardens that same day.

He seemed to contradict that story in a letter he sent to the Daily Times this week in which he boasted being the "only one" who knew the whereabouts of the child.

The letter, which authorities later verified was written by a fellow inmate but signed by the virtually illiterate Rivera, also contradicted Rivera's allegation in district court that Katelyn 's mother knows her whereabouts.

Anyone with information can call township police at (610) 485-8400, county detectives at (610) 891-4700 or the FBI at (215) 418-4000. "

Somebody knows what happened," Baravordeh said, adding that he believes Katelyn is safe.

In 1997, Baravordeh paid the bill for a 7-year-old boy who was attacked by a dog and bitten in the face to go to Disney World in Florida.

The additional Katelyn Rivera-Helton reward money was raised by a benefit organized by Annemarie Jowder, manager of the R-S Club in Woodlyn, Ridley Township.

While all information is appreciated, fliers indicate that Katelyn must be returned in order to qualify for the reward money.

Baravordeh said that's fine with him, as long as Rivera doesn't try to get it.