Dad charged after son, 9, is found in burned car: Cops- Manuel Rivera, a 43-year-old man from Sayreville, New Jersey, has been charged with murder and other crimes following the discovery of his 9-year-old son’s body in a burning car doused with gasoline near a high school.
Rivera was charged with aggravated arson, murder, endangering the welfare of a child, and desecration of human remains. The incident occurred on Thursday night, leading to a police investigation that revealed the tragic circumstances surrounding the boy’s death.
Rivera was a part-time cafeteria worker and driver at the school district, according to school board records. The police were alerted to the situation when they were called to the family’s home around 10:45 p.m. on Thursday. They were informed that Rivera had left the residence with the boy.
Shortly after, a fire was reported in the area of Sayreville War Memorial High School. Upon arrival at the school, police found Rivera next to the burning car, which he had doused with gasoline. Rivera sustained burns to his body and a self-inflicted wound, leading to his hospitalization. The boy’s body was found inside the vehicle, but it was not immediately clear if he died in the fire or before it was set.
The Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office issued a news release detailing the charges against Rivera. Additional charges were expected, but it was not known at the time if Rivera had retained an attorney. The investigation into the incident is ongoing, and the exact circumstances surrounding the boy’s death and the actions leading to the fire are still being determined.
