Parents Of 2-Year-Old Boy Who Was Found Dead And Buried In Stamford Park Sentenced: Reports

STAMFORD, CT — The parents of a 2-year-old boy who was found dead and buried in Cummings Park in Stamford over three years ago were sentenced to prison on Tuesday, according to media reports.

Edgar Ismalej-Gomez and Iris Rivera-Santos, the parents of Liam Rivera, were sentenced to 18 years and 20 years in prison, respectively, the Stamford Advocate reported.

The parents pleaded guilty last November in the death of their son.

News 12 CT reported that an earlier plea offer of 16 years for Ismalej-Gomez and Rivera-Santos was rejected by a judge.

Police received information on Jan. 2, 2023, in reference to a possible kidnapping and a child who may have been harmed and buried in the area of Cummings Park.

Officers responded to the park and found fresh dirt that was disturbed, police said at the time. Officers then unearthed a plastic bag containing the remains of Rivera.

The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner ruled the boy's death a homicide by multiple blunt force injuries to the head.

Ismalej-Gomez was identified as a person of interest, and investigators worked with local agencies to locate him.

In the early morning hours of Jan. 3, 2023, officers pulled over a taxi containing Ismalej-Gomez on West Main Street and he was arrested without incident, police said.

He was initially charged with violation of probation stemming from another arrest and incident in 2021 in which Rivera suffered a broken arm, police said.

The Advocate reported Ismalej-Gomez pleaded guilty in April 2022 in connection with the abuse of Rivera, and served 60 days of a five-year prison sentence.

Rivera's family had an open child abuse/neglect case with the Department of Children and Families (DCF) and the Superior Court for Juvenile Matters at the time of his death, according to a 59-page report released by the Office of the Child Advocate for the State of Connecticut in October 2023.

Forensic interviews conducted with Rivera's siblings after his death indicate that Ismalej-Gomez was living with or frequently visiting with the family during the time period before Rivera's death, the report noted.

Charges against Ismalej-Gomez were upgraded on May 1, 2024, to include cruelty to persons; moving a dead body without a permit; third-degree hindering prosecution; tampering with evidence; risk of injury to a minor; criminal violation of a protective order; and conspiracy to tamper with physical evidence

Rivera-Santos was arrested in connection with Rivera's death on Feb. 3, 2023, and charged with risk of injury to a minor; hindering prosecution; tampering with evidence; moving a dead body without a permit; and cruelty to persons.

State's Attorney Paul Ferencek previously said investigators "were unable to determine" who was responsible for the boy's death, hence why there was no homicide charge, the Advocate reported.

Read more from Stamford Advocate and News 12 CT