Lawrence man, 47, allegedly gave drugs to 13-year-old, sexually assaulted her before dumping her body at a hospital
A Lawrence man has been arrested in connection to the death investigation of a Massachusetts teenager who passed away shortly after she was brought to the Lawrence General Hospital for emergency treatment this week.
According to a press release by the Essex District Attorney's Office, Carlos Rivera, 47, has been charged with two counts of distribution of Class B drugs to a minor, two counts of indecent assault and battery on a child under 14, and one count of indecent assault and battery on a person over 14 in connection to the death of 13-year-old Chloe Ricard, of Amesbury.
The release states that investigators determined it was Rivera who brought the teenager to Lawrence General Hospital on Monday, May 20, at approximately 4:47 pm, and that he was accompanied by another female under the age of 16.
They learned that Chloe and the other teen were both at the 47-year-old's apartment at 59 Bellevue Street on the evening of May 19 — which was the day after she allegedly ran away from home — and during most of the next day before she was rushed to the hospital.
Addressing the media before Rivera's capture, her stepfather, Brian Dolan, had expressed his hope that the one responsible would pay for their crimes. "No pulse, no nothing, they just drove in and dropped her off," he said.
"She didn't even have a pulse when they pushed her out of the car," he continued. "The only thing I was told earlier from another agency is someone 47 years old dropped her off. Whoever did this to my little stepdaughter, trust me, I hope there's hell to pay because they threw her out of the car like a bag of trash."
Essex DA Jonathan Blodgett praised those involved in his capture. "I want to commend the entire investigative team who worked around the clock to determine the events leading to the tragic death of the 13-year-old girl," he said. "We will continue our diligent pursuit of justice for this victim."
The Daily Mail reported that one of the teen's last posts on Instagram was a disturbing one where she contemplated death. "I don't wanna live long at all," she wrote. "Y'all dumb tryna clown me and bring me down for being what I am... I live my life everyday like its the last and that's me. I'll never change and one day I will not wake up and that's my goal. Stop worrying about my health."
While authorities said she suffered cardiac arrest, the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner has not been ruled on the cause and manner of Chloe's death, and the case remains under investigation by the Essex DA's Office, the Essex State Police Detective Unit, and Lawrence Police.
The family has set up a GoFundMe page to raise donations to cover the cost of her funeral. It has raised $8,585 of a $10,500 goal in just three days at the time of writing.
Rivera is currently being questioned by investigators and is being held on a $750,000 bail. He is expected to be arraigned on his charges at the Lawrence District Court on Tuesday, May 28.