NEW YORK – A 19-year-old who was babysitting his half-brother admitted to a horrifying triple-homicide in which he killed a 5-year-old boy and the child’s parents in a Bronx apartment.
The victims, Jonathan Rivera and Hanoi Peralta, were found dead in their apartment along with their son, Kayden Rivera. The suspect, Jayden Rivera, confessed to the police that he believed the innocent victims were going to harm him, although he later acknowledged that he “did something wrong.”
According to police, Jayden Rivera had been complaining about hearing voices before the brutal attacks. The attacker stabbed the 5-year-old boy multiple times before gutting him, and also attacked the child’s parents with a pot left heavily dented from the violence.
The suspect’s defense attorney revealed that Jayden Rivera suffers from “extreme mental health issues,” adding a layer of complexity to the tragic incident.
Neighbors reported hearing screaming and praying coming from the apartment where the homicides occurred, further underscoring the disturbing nature of the events. The victims were subjected to multiple stab wounds, with the father also sustaining defensive wounds on both hands.
Authorities were not notified of the crime until the early hours of the morning, leading to a delay in discovering the horrific scene. Jayden Rivera was taken into custody and admitted to a psychiatric ward following the incident.
While the accused killer had no prior arrests, he had recently dropped out of college and was working as a doorman. His lawyer expressed condolences to the victims’ family and emphasized the need for appropriate mental health care for Jayden Rivera.
The devastation caused by this shocking crime has left the community reeling, and the true extent of the impact on the families involved is immeasurable. The tragic loss of innocent lives and the circumstances surrounding the case underscore the importance of mental health awareness and support services in preventing such senseless acts of violence.