Delaware County Daily Times - Mar 23, 2000 Article #4

Timeline of Katelyn 's disappearance

Delaware County Daily Times (Primos - Upper Darby, PA) - Thursday, March 23, 2000

Aug. 1, 1999: Robert Rivera arrested on charges of assaulting Jennifer Helton. Aug. 5: Protection from abuse order sought by Helton against Rivera is signed in Media. Aug. 10 8:15 a.m. Rivera 's girlfriend Michele Lupi lets Rivera use her red 1995 Ford Escort to go to district court while she goes to her job in Essington. 9 a.m. Rivera waives preliminary hearing before District Justice Rocco Gaspari. Bail set at $50,000 recognizance bail. 10:55 a.m. Upper Chichester police respond to a call of an assault at Wawa at Chichester and Malesta avenues. Helton says she was leaving the convenience store when Rivera "opened the door, grabbed her by the throat and pulled her out of the vehicle." 11 a.m. Upper Chichester police respond to a call at a Second Avenue residence. Day care provider Sheila Clendening tells police Rivera forced his way into her home and carried daughter, Katelyn , out the door. Noon: Rivera fails to keep lunch date with Lupi. 5:20 p.m. Rivera picks up Lupi at work. Katelyn is with him in Lupi's car. They drive to phone booth and call Helton. At one point, the three turn up at Helton's parents home on Sharpless Avenue in Upper Chichester. 5:30 - 6 p.m. Lupi last sees Katelyn as Rivera drops Lupi off on Jones Drive. 7:15 p.m. Rivera buys $2 in gas at station at routes 1 and 100. Katelyn is with him. 9:15 - 9:30 p.m. Rivera returns to station, trades $160 watch for $10 gas. Katelyn is not with him. 10-10:30 p.m. Rivera turns up at friends' home in Cecil County, Md. Aug. 11: Rivera arrested outside Sharpless Avenue residence. He tells police he gave Katelyn to a couple at Longwood Gardens. He is arraigned and bail is raised to $100,000 cash. Aug. 18: Investigators search Elk River, Md. Aug. 23: Shovel belonging to friends Rivera visited the night of the kidnapping is recovered at construction site in Elkton, Md. Aug. 28: Benefit helps raise $12,000 reward for Katelyn 's return. Aug. 30: Investigators question whereabouts of a tire iron believed missing from getaway car. Sept. 1: Rivera held for trial on kidnapping charges. He announces in court that Helton knows the child's whereabouts, which she denied. Sept. 23 and 30: Rivera writes to Daily Times boasting exclusive knowledge of Katelyn 's whereabouts.

Oct. 3: Reward funds grows for Katelyn 's return

Oct. 14: Rivera formally arraigned

on kidnapping offenses.

Oct. 14: Katelyn 's sock and rhinestone-studded shoe found along Route 202 South near

Concord Mall.

Oct. 19: Rivera swears during jailhouse interviews that Katelyn is alive, though investigators previously recovered a shoe and sock that her mother identified as Katelyn 's.

Nov. 15: Rivera seeks reduction in his $100,000 bail.

Nov. 23: Rivera demands new attorney. After considerable discussion, Judge Robert C. Wright approves removal of Assistant Public Defender Robert D'Agostino.

Dec. 2: G. Guy Smith, former Swarthmore mayor, appointed new attorney for Rivera .

Feb 17, 2000: Case goes to special Grand Jury. March 22: Rivera arraigned on murder charge.