Man charged in 2020 death of Franklin County child

HAMPTON — A Belmond man has been charged with murder after the death of a 23-month old child a year ago.

The Hampton Police Department says Jhonny Rivera has been charged with first-degree murder and child endangerment resulting in death. Police say the child was taken to the Franklin General Hospital on August 1st of 2020 and was pronounced dead about an hour after arriving.

The child’s death was ruled as a homicide two days later after an autopsy by the State Medical Examiner’s Office.

A criminal complaint states that an investigation by the Hampton Police Department and the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation determined that Rivera was a caretaker of the child and a suspect in the boy’s death.

Rivera was arrested on Sunday and was being held in the Franklin County Law Enforcement Center.

Link to Complaint and Affidavit – Count 1 – Murder 1st Degree Count 2 – Child Endangerment – Death