Prosecutor: 6-Year-Old Camden Boy Died Trying To Save Sister From Suspect's Attack
By Robin Rieger
CAMDEN, NJ (CBS) -- Thirty-one-year-old Osvaldo Rivera cried through his first appearance in Camden court on Tuesday.
Rivera is now being held on $5 million bail for the murder of 6-year-old Camden boy Dominick Andujar and the attempted murder of his 12-year-old sister. Authorities say Rivera was high on marijuana and PCP at the time of the attacks which happened inside the victims' Camden home early Sunday morning.
Family members inside the packed courtroom cried as details of the murder and assault were revealed, including a claim from the prosecutor that the 12-year-old girl told the neighbor she ran to for help that "Poppi raped me."
Outside of court, Camden County Prosecutor Warren Faulk said the 6-year-old boy died trying to save his sister from Rivera's attack. Faulk says Dominick's sister was being assaulted by Rivera, had been slashed and was screaming for help, and her brother came to her rescue. The boy was able to distract Rivera so that his sister could run out of house for help, and Faulk says that's when Dominick was stabbed in the throat and killed.
In court, Assistant Prosecutor Christine Shah said that after Rivera came home in bloody clothes, his mother drove him to the River Road home where he was found by police. Witnesses who know Rivera said he sometimes stayed there and they thought he might be there.
Police found Rivera inside that house, hiding between a mattress and the wall, on Monday.
In an effort to crack down on crime, The Camden Police Department through the Citizens Crime Commission is offering a $500 reward for information leading to the arrest of anyone found to have an illegal gun or PCP.
To contact the Camden County tip line, call 856-225-8476. To contact the Citizens Crime Commission, call 877-345-TIPS.
