Man arrested in death of 11-year-old Massachusetts girl

LAWRENCE, Mass. — A Massachusetts man was arrested Friday night in connection with the death of Precious Wallaces, the Essex district attorney and Lawrence police chief announced. Wallaces was an 11-year-old girl from Haverhill who died after being found unresponsive at a family member's home Dec. 15.

According to the release from DA Jonathan Blodgett and Chief Roy Vasque, a Massachusetts State Police detective and a Lawrence police officer arrested Miguel Rivera, 58, of Lawrence, on Friday night. Rivera is charged with permitting substantial bodily injury to a child and misleading a police investigation.

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The Essex DA's Office has been investigating Wallaces' death with assistance from the Essex State Police Detective Unit and Lawrence police. An autopsy has been performed by the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, but no ruling has been made yet on the cause and manner of death.

Investigators were looking into whether Wallaces had been exposed to fentanyl, a synthetic opioid that is 80 to 100 times stronger than morphine. Law enforcement officials say the investigation into the child's death is still ongoing.

Currently, Rivera is being held on $1 million bail. He is set to be arraigned in Lawrence District Court on Tuesday.

Cox Media Group