A 10-year-old boy shares an emotional statement to his father’s killer before sentencing, expressing his pain over losing his dad too early. Read his touching words and the family’s journey toward justice.
In a heartbreaking turn of events, a 10-year-old boy issued a poignant message to the man who killed his father. The statement was delivered just before Terrence Johnson was sentenced for the murder of Fernando “Chino” Rivera in Connecticut.
Johnson, 18 at the time of the crime, was sentenced to 38 years in prison on Tuesday, October 7, for stabbing Rivera to death in 2020. The tragic incident occurred at the corner of Elm Street and Washington Avenue in West Haven, Connecticut. At the time, Rivera’s young son, Niko, was eagerly waiting for his father to come home so they could celebrate Halloween together. Sadly, Niko would never see his father again.
Rivera was severely injured in the attack and later died from a neck wound at the Yale New Haven Hospital the following day. He was engaged to Niko’s mother, Lindsee Baez, at the time of his death. Niko, only 5 years old when his father was murdered, was told that his dad died from a “boo-boo,” not fully understanding the magnitude of the loss at that time.
Now 10, Niko bravely spoke in court on the day of Johnson’s sentencing. In a victim impact statement, Niko directly addressed his father’s killer, expressing the pain of not having had enough time with his father.
According to the Hartford Courant, Niko’s words were heart-wrenching: “I didn’t get enough time with my dad… My dad deserved to stay. My dad was taken from me too early.”
Niko continued, “I wish he would go away and stay in jail for 100 years. I want dad to know I miss him so much.”
In a statement shared with the court, Rivera’s fiancée, Lindsee Baez, spoke of the immense loss she and Niko have endured. She said, “In a perfect world, the killer would spend the rest of his life in jail, but this sentence gives us a semblance of justice.”
Baez further expressed the irreparable damage caused by Johnson’s actions: “You stole a life, you stole dreams, and you stole love, and no sentence can ever undo the damage you caused. At the end of my day, my son doesn’t have a dad.”
She reflected on the 17 years she spent with Rivera, remembering him as not just a partner but her best friend. “We grew up together, from our teenage years into adulthood,” she said, adding, “The road was bumpy along the way, but we never gave up on each other. We chose our family every single day, and that choice made him so happy.”
The tragedy has left a lasting mark on their lives, with both Niko and Baez grieving the loss of a beloved family member. Though justice has been served with the sentencing, the emotional toll on the family remains undeniable.
