CRIME
9-Year-Old Boy Found Dead In Burning Vehicle Following Domestic Dispute In New Jersey
Sayreville Police Department
Police in New Jersey are investigating after finding the body of a dead 9-year-old boy inside a burning vehicle on Thursday night.
The Sayreville Police Department said authorities received a 911 call reporting a fire near Sayreville High School at around 10:45 p.m. Thursday. Soon after, another 911 call came in reporting a related domestic dispute.
Officers responding to the domestic dispute on Eisenhower Drive in the Borough of Sayreville found female victim who reported that the dispute led to Manuel Rivera, 43, leaving the home with their 9-year-old son.
Officers responding to the reported fire on Washington Road, near the rear of Sayreville High School, found Rivera alive but with burns to his body and a self-inflicted wound, police said. Next to him was a burning vehicle that had been doused with gasoline.
Inside the vehicle was the body of a deceased child, police said.
Rivera was transported to Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital for treatment of his injuries.
Rivera has been charged with second-degree aggravated arson. Police said additional charges may be filed by the Middlesex County Prosecutors Office pending an autopsy report from the Middlesex County Medical Examiner.
Police are asking anyone with information or surveillance video of the area to call Detective Michael Pirigyi of the Sayreville Police Department at 732-727-4444 or Detective Jose Rosario of the Middlesex County Prosecutors Office at 732-745-3289.
TMX contributed to this article.
