Police charge mother of 2-year-old found buried in Cummings Park last month

Iris Rivera-Santos is charged with risk of injury to a minor, hindering prosecution, tampering with evidence and cruelty to persons. She is being held on $1 million bond.

News 12 Staff

Feb 3, 2023, 4:27 PM

Updated 616 days ago

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Stamford police arrested the mother of a toddler whose body was found buried in a local park a month ago.
Iris Rivera-Santos has been arrested in connection to the death of her 2-year-old son, Liam Rivera. She is charged with risk of injury to a minor, hindering prosecution, tampering with evidence and cruelty to persons. She is being held on $1 million bond.
Stamford police say they found Liam Rivera wrapped in a plastic bag and buried in Cummings Park on Jan. 2. An autopsy determined the case was a homicide and that Liam Rivera was killed by multiple blunt force injuries to his head. Police named the child's father as the suspect from the start.
Edgar Ismalej-Gomez was taken into custody the next day on an outstanding warrant while in a cab allegedly headed to New York. He was previously convicted of breaking the child's arm.
"Over the month of January, we worked day in and day out, getting numerous search warrants, reviewing surveillance cameras," said Stamford police Lt. Douglas Deiso.
Ismalej-Gomez is being held on $3 million bond and remains in custody on a violation of probation charge.
"He’s still currently a suspect," said Deiso.
During his arraignment, the prosecutor said Liam Rivera was found dead after Ismalej-Gomez went into his son's room. She also said he refused to let Rivera-Santos call an ambulance, then buried the child in the park and held Rivera-Santos hostage. Police would not comment on that or additional forthcoming charges.
"We still have a lot of work to do and we’re still very, very premature into this case," said Deiso.
Rivera-Santos will be arraigned Monday, and new details are expected to be brought to light, including what police found to support the charges. Ismalej-Gomez is due in court Wednesday.