Benjamin Rivera Plea Deal in Samuel Olson Case: What's Next?

Benjamin Rivera's Plea Agreement

• 📌 Benjamin Rivera, former roommate of Theresa Balboa, is expected to plead guilty to tampering with a human corpse.
• ⚖️ This charge carries a potential punishment of up to 20 years in prison.

The Samuel Olson Case Timeline

• 📅 The case began in May 2021 when 5-year-old Samuel Olson was reported missing.
• 💔 Detectives discovered Samuel had been deceased for weeks, with Theresa Balboa, who was dating the boy's father, identified as the perpetrator.
• 🔪 Balboa allegedly struck Samuel with a blunt object and subsequently contacted Rivera.

Concealment of the Body

• 🛌 Rivera stated that upon arriving home, he found Samuel's body and, with Balboa, placed it in a bathtub.
• 📦 The body was later wrapped in plastic, placed in a storage bin purchased by Rivera, and transported to a storage unit in Webster.
• 🚗 The body was moved again days later to a motel room in Jasper, East Texas.

Discovery and Arrests

• 🔍 Samuel's body was found on June 2nd, approximately 17 days after he was reported missing.
• 📞 An anonymous tip to Crimestoppers about a motel room booked for Balboa led to the discovery.
• 🚔 Balboa was arrested shortly after, followed by Rivera's arrest more than two weeks later.

Upcoming Legal Proceedings

• 🗓️ Rivera's sentencing will occur on a date separate from his plea entry.
• 📰 Updates from inside the courtroom are expected as the proceedings begin around 9:00 AM.