LEAVENWORTH, Kan. – Rae Ann Parker is a grandmother who misses her grandson.
“He was grandma’s boy. He loved grandma,” Parker explains as she chokes back tears.
Rae Ann Parker played an active role in helping to raise her grandson, Gabriel Rivera.
Several years ago, Parker moved to Colorado with her daughter Monica to help the single mom raise her son.
Parker says she spent two years in Colorado. During snow season, she says Monica would live in Denver during the week and commute to Colorado Springs on weekends to see her and Gabriel.
“During that time, it was he and I. Grandma had to play mommy, but he loved it. He was happy,” Parker says.
Her role of helping out continued after the trio moved back to Leavenworth. However, illnesses prevented Parker from being as involved.
Now, she regrets not being able to help out more.
“The day before he died, I wasn’t here in town. His mom had called me before she went to work,” Parker said. “Now I know the next day when he died, I should have been here.”
Jones a “Danger to Children”
Monica Rivera developed a relationship in 2009 with a man with a troubled past.
When he met Monica, Jason Jones had just gotten out of prison for robbing a convenience store.
But his problems do not end there.
The NBC Action News Investigators uncovered a legal document showing Jones owes back child support for two of his three children.
Additionally, in 2005, Jones was placed on the
Kansas Child Abuse and Neglect Registry following an investigation by the
Department of Social and Rehabilitation Services (SRS). SRS determined Jones had physically and emotionally abused one of his children, and that he emotionally abused another son and a third minor.
A court document spelling out the SRS ruling states, “SRS has determined that Jason Jones is a danger to children and should not be allowed to work in, reside in or regularly volunteer for a child care facility licensed by the
Kansas Department of Health and Environment.”
Leavenworth investigators believe 4-year-old Gabriel Rivera died October 4th due to blunt force trauma.
Jones was responsible for watching Gabriel and Jones’ 11-year-old son from another woman.
Prosecutors
charged Jones with murder and child abuse due to Gabriel's death.
Jones
claims he is innocent.
Jones banned from Gabriel
Sources confirm to NBC Action News that Jones should not have been with 4-year-old Gabriel the day he died.
SRS earlier in the year filed an order of protection on Gabriel's behalf, banning Jones from being around him.
SRS had been called by Gabriel's daycare center after a worker discovered bruises on his body.
Now,
Monica Rivera faces charges of child endangerment after leaving him in the care of Jones.
Rivera’s preliminary hearing is scheduled for Friday, Nov. 13, 2009.
Parker says Jason Jones portrayed himself as a calm person.
“I think this person who may have done this is a wolf in sheep’s clothing,” Parker says. “He pulled the wool over my eyes.”
