Arrest Made In Death Investigation Of Amesbury Girl, 13

LAWRENCE, MA — An arrest has been made in connection with the death of the 13-year-old Amesbury girl who died after being dropped off at Lawrence General Hospital on Monday, the Essex County District Attorney's Office said.

Carlos Rivera, 47, was arrested early Saturday morning after being interviewed by investigators, the DA's office said. Rivera is charged with two counts of distribution of Class B drugs to a minor, two counts of indecent assault and battery on a child under 14 and indecent assault and battery on a person over 14.

The DA's office said Rivera brought the 13-year-old girl to Lawrence General Hospital on Monday and he was accompanied by another girl under the age of 16. Both girls were at Rivera's apartment in Lawrence during the evening of Sunday, May 19 and for much of the next day, Monday, May 20, the same day the 13-year-old girl was dropped off at the hospital, according to the DA.

The girl was identified by family members as Chloe Ricard. Ricard's mother and stepfather told The Boston Globe she was dropped off at a friend's house around 4 p.m. Sunday.

When she didn't come home that night, Ricard's mother said she was told by her daughter's friends that she was safe with a friend in Haverhill, according to The Globe. Her mother reported her daughter missing at 4 p.m. Monday.

"I want to commend the entire investigative team who worked around the clock to determine the events leading of the tragic death of a 13-year old girl," Essex District Attorney Jonathan Blodgett said in a statement. "We will continue our diligent pursuit of justice for this victim."

Blodgett said Ricard was dropped off at the emergency room at 4:47 p.m. Monday. An autopsy was scheduled for Tuesday to determine a cause of death, but Blodgett said it could be "some time" before a ruling is made.

As of Saturday, the office of the chief medical examiner has not yet ruled on the cause and manner of the death.

Rivera was held on $750,000 bail and is expected to be arraigned on Tuesday.

The investigation is ongoing.

Mike Carraggi contributed to this report.