WINTER GARDEN, Fla. — A 49-year-old man who investigators said paid to help cover up the death of a 16-year-old Winter Garden boy is out of jail on bond.
Winter Garden police said Luis Rivera Sr. helped coordinate disposal of the body of Bruce Hagans Jr.
Hagans had been missing for a week and triggered an Amber Alert before his body was discovered in a shallow grave Friday, police said.
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Police said Friday that Hagans' body was discovered in a wooded area near Robertson Street in the Wedgefield neighborhood after they received a tip.
Investigators believe Rivera helped to dispose of Hagans' body, but he is not charged with his death.
Rivera was arrested on charges of tampering with evidence among other charges.
Police said Hagans got into the car of Rivera's son, Luis Rivera Jr., May 31 on Lincoln Terrace for a drug deal, and they got into a struggle before gunfire was heard and the car was driven away.
Detectives said Luis Rivera Jr. called his father and the two met at an Orlando body shop to repair a rear window.
The body shop owner told detectives he noticed a body in the back seat and that Luis Rivera Sr. removed video from a surveillance camera without permission.
Police said Luis Rivera Sr. later paid the body shop owner's son $200 to remove blood and to repair the head rest riddled with bullets.
An arrest affidavit said Luis Rivera Sr.'s other son told detectives that he helped the two bury the body.
He told investigators the victim had several gunshot wounds in his abdomen.
The affidavit said Luis Rivera Jr.'s cellphone location revealed that he was in Massachusetts as of June 1.
Hagans' father said his family is still trying to cope with his death.
"The whole family is very sad, because he was such a nice, loving kid," Bruce Haggins Sr. said.
"This is very difficult when you lose someone close to you," said Bacari Brown, Hagans' cousin.
During his court appearance, a judge ordered Rivera to not have any contact with the co-defendant in the case.
Investigators said Friday that they expect to make more arrests but haven't announced any.
Watch the full press conference with the Winter Garden Police Department here:
WATCH LIVE: Winter Garden police give update on missing 16-year-old boyWATCH LIVE: Winter Garden police said they have made an arrest in connection with the disappearance of a 16-year-old boy who triggered an Amber Alert last week. Read: at.wftv.com/2ZjeDlb
Posted by WFTV Channel 9 on Friday, June 7, 2019
We’re on Robertson Street in Orange County where Winter Garden Police say human remains were found in a shallow grave this morning. pic.twitter.com/yM2utCmpES
— Len Kiese WFTV (@LenKieseTV) June 7, 2019
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