NJ Dad Gets 30 Years For Killing Ex, Desecrating Remains: Prosecutors

UNION COUNTY, NJ — An East Orange man, who previously admitted to killing his ex girlfriend in a trial in April, was sentenced to 30 years in state prison on Friday, Union County Prosecutor William A. Daniel announced Tuesday.

The 28-year-old, Tyler Rios, received a 25-year sentenced for his aggravated manslaughter conviction, as well as a five-year consecutive sentence for "desecrating human remains," according to prosecutors.

Rios must serve at least 85 percent of the 25-year sentence on aggravated manslaughter before the possibility of parole on that count, prosecutors said. He then must serve the additional five-year term before being eligible for release, Judge John Deitch ruled.

The incident, which occurred in July of 2021, resulted in a widely broadcasted Amber Alert and a multi-state investigation.

The race to find the mother and son began July 9 when two-year-old Sebastian Rios did not show up for daycare that day, and 24-year-old Yasmein Uyar of Rahway did not arrive for work. That is also when Tyler Rios was identified as a suspect in the case, according to authorities.

A welfare check was conducted on Uyar's home by members of the Rahway Police Department, but no one was found inside.

Shortly thereafter, the State Police issued an Amber Alert that was sent to privately owned cell phones, broadcast on electronic billboards along highways in New Jersey and beyond, and widely shared via social media.

Read More: Amber Alert Canceled For 2-Year-Old Boy, Mom In Union County

On July 11, at about 3 a.m., the Putnam County Sheriff's Office in Tennessee got a call from the Union County Prosecutor's Office in New Jersey about the alleged abduction and that Rios, the former boyfriend of Uyar and father of Sebastian, may or could harm them.

Rios was reportedly driving a silver 2018 Ford Fiesta.

At about 3:15 a.m., Monterey Police Officers, along with Putnam County Deputies, found the silver Ford Fiesta at the parking lot of the Bethel Inn Hotel located near I-40 just off exit 301 in Monterey, Tennessee, said Putnam County Sheriff's Office.

Authorities found Rios was staying in a room at the hotel. Police tried to convince Rios to give up and leave his room, but authorities said he refused to do so. Police subsequently entered the hotel room by force, taking Rios into custody, the sheriff's office said.

The two-year-old toddler was also inside the room, unharmed, and was immediately taken by police and placed in a safe location and cared for, according to authorities.

Police searched both the hotel room and the Ford Fiesta. The car was taken to the FBI forensic crime lab for further forensic analysis.

Rios led authorities to a wooded area inside Putnam County, just inside Monterey city limits off of Interstate I-40, where the dead body of Uyar was found, according to authorities.

An autopsy performed on Uyar revealed that her death resulted from "strangulation and blunt force trauma." According to prosecutors, a subsequent investigation found that, on July 8, Rios killed Uyar in her Rahway home before placing her in the trunk of his car, then taking his son and fleeing to Tennessee.

Keeping Yasemin Uyar's Memory Alive

Since Yasemin Uyar's death, her mother Karen has spoken publicly about "Yazzie's" abusive relationship with Rios. Read More: 'Her Voice Needs To Continue On': Slain Rahway Woman's Mom Speaks

"Her relationship with domestic violence and Tyler is a long relationship. People need to understand that it is not always the person who goes through this but the entire family. We as a family have been there for Yasemin through everything that was involved in their relationship," said Karen Uyar.

"She suffered from postpartum depression after she had Sebastian and suffered from horrible insomnia. But she was so thrilled to have Sebastian. He truly was her best friend. She went nowhere without him. She loves spending time with him, they always Facetimed together, texting or calling… She would take him to the parks," said Karen Uyar.

It was only recently that Yasemin Uyar enrolled Sebastian in daycare. Her mother said it was something Yasemin didn't want to do because she loved spending time with him. But she just got a job and was trying to get her life back in the right direction.

"She was just a brave young mom trying to live her life," said Karen Uyar.

As part of her recapturing her life, Yasemin moved to Rahway about four or five months ago for the sole purpose of distancing herself from Rios, said Karen Uyar.

However, she was about to move on Friday again because Rios found out where she lived, said Karen Uyar.

That same day, Sebastian Rios did not show up for daycare and Yasemin Uyar did not arrive for work. An Amber Alert was issued.

Karen Uyar is now caring for Sebastian.

Karen Uyar stressed the importance multiple times that "Yasemin's voice needs to continue for the issue of domestic violence."

"I know in my heart she would want the message to get out there about supporting domestic violence policies. Her voice needs to continue on. Her life already has a purpose because we have Sebastian," said Karen Uyar. "But I feel like the purpose that God has taken her for is so the issue of domestic violence is supported and being there for people, having tougher laws is what Yasemin's voice is going to go for."

Following Yazzie's death, officials took steps to prevent more such deaths. Gov. Phil Murphy signed legislation in July making assault by strangulation a second-degree crime, regardless of whether it results in death (studies show that strangulation is a sign of even more serious domestic violence to come).

Read more: Strangulation Now A Second-Degree Crime In New Jersey

This article features reporting from Patch editor Alexis Tarrazi.