How Could You? Hall of Shame-Michael and Olivia Rivera cases-Child Deaths

This will be an archive of heinous actions by those involved in child welfare, foster care and adoption. We forewarn you that these are deeply disturbing stories that may involve sex abuse, murder, kidnapping and other horrendous actions.

From Fort Bragg, North Carolina, adoptive father Anthony Rivera was charged in 2017 for the homicide deaths of his two adopted children, Michael and Olivia.

“Rivera’s son Michael died in November 2017 after waking from a nap, “pale, staring off and moaning.”

Two months later, his younger sister, Olivia, was reported dead after the parents found her unresponsive in her crib.

The medical examiner’s investigation labeled both toddlers’ deaths as homicides from blunt force trauma. Their autopsies detailed similar injuries from contusions and abrasions on the legs and face to severed backbones to healing fractures.

Dr. Marcia Herman-Giddens, a child abuse advocate called the number of injuries described in the report “incredible.”

When a child dies in North Carolina and the family had involvement with DSS, the State Fatality Review Team is supposed to review the case and identify any missteps along the way to ensure similar mistakes aren’t made again.

This never happened in this case, despite DSS getting involved after the first toddler’s death.

A spokesperson for NCDHHS said because of the ABC11 Investigation they re-examined the deaths of Michael and Olivia and determined child fatality reviews were needed.

The department said it finished collecting information on the Riveras’ deaths and plans to review both these cases in the coming weeks.

“Any death of a child is an unthinkable tragedy. NCDHHS works every day to create a North Carolina where children are protected and families are safe, and when a child dies due to maltreatment, we reexamine our systems and recommit to do better,” a spokesperson for NCDHHS wrote in a statement to the I-Team.

The department said legal proceedings, and investigations can slow down reviews. The department declined an interview on its process and the Rivera case.

Sharon Hirsch, the president and CEO of Prevent Child Abuse NC, said reviews after fatalities are critical.

“We could spend lots of time and attention on the horror of it that unless we spend time going back and asking all of those questions — so that we can do better next time — we’re going to continue to repeat the cycle,” she said.

Beyond the deaths of the two Rivera toddlers, ‘Deadly Adoptions’ uncovered multiple instances of Child Fatality Reviews identifying gaps in systems that may have contributed to children’s deaths.

A review of more than 200 deaths in North Carolina, showcased cases where the high turnover in staff led to child welfare workers giving assessments without proper training and poor documentation. In other cases, difficulties sharing data, critical information withheld, lost records and improper case documentation, and lack of collaboration across and within county agencies, were highlighted as issues.”

“A Fort Bragg soldier and adopted father Anthony Rivera was scheduled to go to trial in February 2023 after he was issued a court martial in 2021 for the homicide of his two- and three-year-old children. Court records show Rivera pleaded not guilty in January 2023.

On March 1, 2023, charges against Rivera were withdrawn, according to military court records.

Bragg officials told the I-Team that the military judge disqualified the prosecutors working on the case due to a potential conflict of interest.

The case is not closed, instead, a higher command will take it on. No new trial date or timeline has been set.”

Charges withdrawn for Fort Bragg soldier who faced court-martial in murder of 2 adopted toddlers
[ABC 11 3/2/23 by Samantha Kummerer]

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