Near Sayreville High School, New Jersey, authorities were confronted with a harrowing scene: a child was found deceased in a vehicle engulfed in flames. The discovery was made late Thursday, following a distressing sequence of events that included a domestic dispute and a subsequent fire reported near the educational institution.

A woman had reported to the police that following a domestic altercation, Manuel Rivera, 43, had left their residence with their 9-year-old son. The situation took a grim turn when police, responding to a 911 call about the fire, located Rivera with burns and self-inflicted wounds near the high school, alongside the burning vehicle.

The Investigation and Charges

Vehicle Fire Near Sayreville High School Leads to Child's Death, Man Charged
The police arrived to find the father beside the burning car, with self-inflicted wounds and burns

Manuel Rivera has been charged with second-degree aggravated arson in connection with the incident. While he was found alive, albeit injured, near the torched vehicle, the discovery of a child’s body within the burned-out car has led to a profound investigation. Authorities are awaiting an autopsy report from the Middlesex County medical examiner’s office to confirm the identity of the deceased child, believed to be Rivera’s son.

The tragic event has shaken the community, prompting an immediate response from law enforcement. As the investigation unfolds, additional charges against Rivera are anticipated, pending the outcome of the medical examiner’s findings. The Sayreville Police Department and the Middlesex County prosecutor’s office have appealed to the public for any information that could shed light on this devastating occurrence.