FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

January 19, 2019

Contact: Carrie Kimball – 978-407-0629

 Essex District Attorney Jonathan Blodgett and Lawrence Police Chief Roy Vasque announced that an arrest has been made in connection with the death of an 11-year old Haverhill girl.

 Miguel Rivera, 58, of Lawrence was arrested last night by a Massachusetts State Police Detective assigned to the District Attorney’s Office and a Lawrence Police officer.  He is charged with Permitting substantial bodily injury to a child and Misleading a police investigation.  He is currently being held on $1 million bail and will be arraigned in Lawrence District Court on Tuesday.

 On December 15, 2018, Lawrence Police and Emergency services responded to 233 Jackson Street for a call requesting medical assistance.  They found Precious Wallaces unresponsive and transported her to Lawrence General Hospital.  She was then med-flighted to Tufts Medical Center where she died.  Since then, her death has been under investigation by the Essex District Attorney’s Office, the Essex State Police Detective Unit and the Lawrence Police.  The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner performed an autopsy but has not yet ruled on a cause and manner of death.  The investigation is ongoing and therefore, it is possible that more charges could issue.