More charges have been filed against a man accused of killing his 9-year-old son and then torching a vehicle containing the boy’s body, MyCentralJersey.com reports.
Police in Sayreville said 43-year-old Manuel Rivera now faces charges of murder, aggravated arson, endangering the welfare of a child, and desecration of human remains.
As CrimeOnline previously reported, authorities on Thursday night were called to a report of a fire near Sayreville High School, where Rivera was allegedly found near a burning car.
Another call came in around the same time about a domestic disturbance related to the situation.
Responders found Rivera with a self-inflicted wound and the body of his son in the burning vehicle, which had been doused with gasoline.
One witness said she saw flames and black smoke billowing from the scene. “Like it was pretty big, and we thought it was the high school. We thought it was the building,” Emily DePascale told WCBS-TV.
Rivera was employed by the school district as a driver and cafeteria worker.
Sayreville Public Schools Superintendent Richard Labbe said counselors would be available at Woodrow Wilson Elementary School, where the victim was in third grade.
“If you are a person of faith, please take the time to pray for our student and his family, including his extended family at the Wilson School,” Labbe said in a written statement, according to MyCentralJersey.com.
“If you are not, please take a moment to send your positive thoughts to him and his family.”
[Feature Photo: Pixabay]
