How a Falls woman went from a missing person to a murder victim; inside the Carol Clark case
A Falls man is accused of drugging his mother before taking her to Philadelphia and fatally shooting her, according to police.
On Monday, Sean Rivera, 28, was arraigned on charges of homicide, kidnapping, aggravated assault, and drug possession with intent to deliver, as well as misdemeanors of possession of an instrument of crime, false imprisonment, unlawful restraint and recklessly endangering another person.
Falls police said Rivera killed 72-year-old Carol Clark, who was reported missing Sunday.
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What did police say happened to Carol Clark?
Rivera told authorities he purchased takeout for he and his mother sometime between 6 p.m. and 7 p.m. Saturday night, according to his criminal complaint. He told police he put fentanyl in his mother's iced tea, court documents state.
Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid that is more potent than heroin.
Sometime between 3 a.m. and 4 a.m. Sunday, Rivera placed his mother in her wheelchair and put her into her Toyota RAV4, according to officials. Clark had limited mobility and used a wheelchair or needed help walking.
She was conscious but in a "lethargic state" because of the fentanyl, when Rivera took her, officials said.
Rivera took his mother from their home in the 500 block of Berwyn Road to a shed on a property in the 4300 block of Waln Street in Philadelphia, charging documents state. He then shot her with a handgun multiple times, police allege.
Rivera took bolt cutters and removed the lock from the shed, put his mother in the shed, then replaced the lock, according to court documents. Investigators found her body in the shed early Monday morning.
How did the police begin investigating Carol Clark’s disappearance?
Police began investigating Clark’s disappearance Sunday afternoon, when Rivera’s brother, who lives in New York, was having a dispute over her whereabouts with Rivera.
Rivera’s criminal complaint states he texted his brother “911” about 7:30 a.m. Sunday. He called Rivera, who told him Clark had died, and that he has to come to Pennsylvania, court documents state.
When he arrived about 9 a.m., Rivera told his brother that she got sick and died, police said. He told her she was at a hospital in the Frankford section of Philadelphia.
Rivera's brother checked with nearby hospitals and could not find their mother. When he returned to the home, Rivera again told him she was at a hospital in Frankford, prompting his brother to check again.
When he returned to the home again, Rivera was not there, the brother called 911.
Sunday was Clark's birthday, and Rivera’s brother had sent her a text message the night before, but had not heard anything. Additionally, Clark had plans for Sunday. It was unlike her to not respond to a text message.
Officers search for Carol Clark of Falls
When police arrived, they searched the home, which was cluttered and had hoarder conditions . They could not do much of a search because of the condition of the home, however they did find Clark’s vehicle in the driveway.
Rivera later showed up and told them his brother should be concerned about his mother’s whereabouts, according to police. Investigators tried calling her, but could not reach her. Using cellphone data, police tracked her phone to the area of Forest Road and Sherwood Drive in Yardley, however they could not find her or the phone, court documents state.
On Sunday night, police sent out a press release in hopes to find her.
After the search for the phone, police spoke to Rivera again, who admitted to drugging and killing his mother, police said.
When searching the home, investigators found two handguns that belonged to Rivera, court documents state. Police said they also found a receipt for a padlock that was used on the shed.
Rivera was arraigned on the charges Monday morning and was sent to Bucks County Prison without bail.
Falls Police Chief Nelson Whitney said his department had not been called to the house for any previous domestic calls either.
Rivera's preliminary hearing is tentatively scheduled for April 26. He did not have an attorney listed for him Monday.
This article originally appeared on Bucks County Courier Times: Falls man accused of drugging, killing mother in Philadelphia
