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Man accused of killing baby back in Clifton
(by Albina Sportelli, Editor - October 09, 2008)
Jose Flores-Rivera being escorted into the Clifton's police station on Tuesday by Clifton juvenile division detectives Robert Bracken and Carmen Bermudez.
CLIFTON — The man accused of killing his girlfriend’s 8-month-old daughter on Sept. 27, is back in Clifton to face murder charges.
On Monday, Clifton and Passaic County Prosecutor’s Office detectives picked up Jose Flores-Rivera, 22, an illegal immigrant from Mexico, from the Newburgh, N.Y. jail where he had been held since his capture and arrest on Sept. 30.
Flores-Rivera did not answer questions about the baby’s death as he walked from the car into police headquarters. Dressed in colorful shorts, sandals and a jacket, the 22-year-old was handcuffed and shackled as he was led inside by detectives. He has been arraigned and remains in the Passaic County Jail.
Flores-Rivera, according to Clifton police, fled the area after learning of the child’s death on Saturday, Sept. 27. He was, was taken into custody in Newburgh, N.Y., at about 9 p.m. on Sept. 30.
Clifton detectives with "information they developed" through local sources, traveled to Newburgh with a member of the Passaic County Prosecutor's Office and a representative of the U.S. Marshall's office and with the help of Newburgh police, surrounded the house where Flores-Rivera was reported to be staying with friends, and took him into custody.
The fugitive had been given a small area in the attic of the home where 15 others live, said detective Capt. Robert Rowan.
"We don’t believe the people in the house were aware of what he had done," Rowan said, adding, that Flores Rivera "had already begun a new life. He had already worked two days in a construction job and we don’t think he would ever have returned to this area."
Passaic County Prosecutor James Avigliano said Clifton police and fire officials responded to 170 Knapp Ave., at about 8:30 a.m. on Sept. 27 in response to the mother’s 911 call where she reported that her baby was not responding.
The mother and Flores-Rivera, who had dated for about 6 months and lived on Knapp Avenue for one month, rode in the Clifton ambulance to the hospital with the baby. When Flores-Rivera learned the baby was dead, he fled, Avigliano said. Autopsy reports revealed the baby died of blunt force trauma and police reports show Flores-Rivera was the last to be with the baby the night before her death.
Flores-Rivera is not the father of the deceased baby, Avigliano said.
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