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Katelyn's shoe, sock found
Delaware County Daily Times (Primos - Upper Darby, PA) - Friday, October 15, 1999 Author: ROSE QUINN ; Of the Times Staff MEDIA - The little yellow sock is dirty and the rhinestone-studded shoe is missing its lace, but Jennifer Helton's identification was unmistakable: They're Katelyn 's. The Upper Chichester mother positively identified the items recently recovered from a Delaware highway as belonging to her missing daughter, Katelyn Selena Rivera -Helton. Those items, coupled with a letter from jailed accused kidnapper Robert N. Rivera to the Daily Times and a recovered missing shovel, brought dogged authorities yesterday one step closer to finding the 22-month-old toddler. It's been a top-priority case both here and in Maryland since the light-haired, chubby-cheeked girl vanished after her father stormed into the Second Avenue home of Katelyn 's day care provider in Upper Chichester and carried her away 67 days ago today. Shortly before, Rivera , 33, confronted Helton, 26, regarding restricted visits with Katelyn stemming from an earlier protection from abuse order obtained by Helton. She sought the order following an alleged assault that ended their nearly four-year relationship, which included a broken engagement." This sneaker and sock, in combination with the statements of the defendant that he is the only one who knows Katelyn 's whereabouts and the discovery of the shovel are creating circumstantial issues that clearly differ with the account last given," Delaware County District Attorney Patrick Meehan said. Rivera, who was arrested Aug. 11 outside Helton's parents' home after telling Helton he would disclose their daughter's location if she would meet him, told authorities he gave his daughter away to a couple he met, but did not know, at Longwood Gardens the day before. He turned up alone at a Blair Shore home along the Elk River in Cecil County, Md., about 40 miles from the Helton's Upper Chichester residence, the night of the Aug. 10 incident. Throughout the day, Rivera had been calling Helton collect from phones along the route, which included a stop in Delaware. Helton spoke at least once by phone with Katelyn that afternoon. Among Rivera 's stops was a McDonald's, a favorite of Katelyn 's. Rivera 's Maryland hosts asked him to leave the next morning because of the odd way he was acting. Their shovel was discovered Aug. 23 at a construction site along Route 40 in Elkton, Md. Katelyn was apparently last seen by an attendant at a gas station at Route 1 and 100 in Delaware County, which is not far from Longwood Gardens in Chester County. She was standing in the back seat of the car and looking out the window at about 8 p.m., the attendant told authorities. Rivera purchased $2 in gas and left, according to the attendant who was unsure which direction they took. Based on everything, Meehan asserted, "It is inconsistent to think someone else would discard a shoe and a sock." Both items were recently discovered by investigators along Route 202 South, near the Concord Mall. Authorities declined to say exactly when or how the discovery was made. In a Sept. 30 letter to the Daily Times, Rivera wrote of Katelyn 's clothing the day he took her. He recognized the outfit - "a yellow top with white flowers about her neck, yellow pants with white flowers going around each leg, little yellow sok (sic) and little white sneakers, each with three different colored rhinestones" - as the one she wore to a music fair in New Jersey. " These clothes were the exact same clothes she was wearing the day I removed her from day care," Rivera wrote, adding that he "didn't think" to bring extra clothing because the disappearance was not planned. In a previous letter to the newspaper, dated Sept. 23, Rivera boasted exclusive knowledge regarding his daughter. " I am the only one who knows the true story I know where my daughter (Katelyn ) is located," he wrote. Rivera blamed Helton and her parents, Frank and Olga Helton, in a letter for "taking everything away from me, including Katelyn ." The Heltons, who could not be reached yesterday, have repeatedly denied Rivera 's accusation. Authorities have since verified that Rivera , who is illiterate, had a fellow inmate write the letters for him. Jennifer Helton verified Rivera 's signature in the first letter. Both letters were voluntarily turned over by the newspaper to authorities. Meanwhile, a $12,000 reward is being offered for the return of Katelyn . Anyone with information can call Upper Chichester police at (610) 485-8400 county detectives at (610) 891-4700 the F.B.I. at (215) 418-4000 or Cecil County authorities at (410) 996-5547. Special Agent Donna A. Kibbie of the F.B.I. and Lt. David C. Peifer of the Delaware County Criminal Investigation Division are heading the ongoing probe. Section: News |