One of the eight people charged in connection with the kidnapping and killing of a 19-year-old Dilltown man last year is due in court today for motions hearing.
Court documents show that 21-year-old Thomas Alan Rivera of Johnstown will go before President Judge Thomas Bianco for the hearing today. Police say Rivera along with Desean Alvarez, Issac Buchkoski, Mia Catafano, Taylyn Edwards, Summer Settlemeyer, Jesse Wadsworth and an unidentified 14-year-old went to the home of Hayden Gareffa’s grandmother on Route 403 on October 20th of last year to kidnap him. Two days later, Garreffa’s body was found about two miles from his grandmother’s house in the tall weeds and brush along an access road near Oneida Mine Road in Brush Valley Township. He was pronounced dead at the scene. An autopsy revealed that he was stabbed multiple times.
Rivera is charged with criminal homicide, kidnapping to aid in a felony, kidnapping to inflict injury, aggravated assault and conspiracy to all four crimes that were filed.
