The Sacramento County Sheriff's Department has confirmed the body found in Glenn County on Thursday morning is that of 6-year-old Jadianna Larsen.
The sheriff's department said detectives have evidence to support the charge of murder against Juan Rivera, Jadianna's mother's boyfriend and Jadianna's caretaker. Rivera, 25, of Sacramento, was booked into the Sacramento County Main Jail late Friday night. He is currently being held without the possibility of bail. Rivera is scheduled to be in court on June 2.
Sheriff department Sgt. Lisa Bowman said, "This mother is not being looked at as a suspect in this case."
Bowman said Jadianna's mother had a legitimate reason not to be home at the time of the incident, but did not go into specifics. Bowman said the mother is cooperating with investigators. A friend told News10 Rivera seemed to care for the girl like she was his own and that Jadianna called him daddy.
Detectives suspended the search and rescue efforts after the body of a female child found in Glenn County was identified as Jadianna. The cause of death has not been determined and may take several weeks. Further confirmatory testing is ongoing by the Sacramento County Crime Lab.
Jadianna was reportedly last seen on Thursday at 11 a.m. in her residence on 47th Avenue in south Sacramento. A family member reported her missing at 8:30 p.m.
Rivera initially told investigators that he suffered a medical emergency and when he woke hours later, Jadianna was not in the apartment. Rivera was found by his mother, who also corroborated his story.
The sheriff's department said Friday that Jadianna was not at school all week.
The sheriff's department said this is now considered to be two separate investigations, first into Jadianna's disappearance and now a criminal investigation into the actions of Rivera.
Chronological breakdown of reports
Details about Jadianna's disappearance came to light at different times from different law enforcement agencies. Below is a chronological breakdown of events:
- Jadianna has not been in school all week, according to the Sacramento County Sheriff's Department.
- The Glenn County Sheriff's Office reports that a body of a girl between 5 and 10 years old was found burned in a field around 10:20 a.m. Thursday.
- Jadianna's caretaker Juan Rivera reported last seeing Jadianna around 11 a.m. Thursday, according to the Sacramento County Sheriff's Department.
- A family member reports Jadianna missing around 8:30 p.m. Thursday.
- The Sacramento County Sheriff's Department issued an endangered missing advisory for Jadianna around 10:30 a.m. Friday.
- According to the Sacramento County Jail booking log, Juan Rivera was booked into jail at 11:35 p.m. Friday.
- Reports of Rivera's arrest and the identification of Jadianna's body were released Saturday morning.
