STAMFORD, CT — The parents of a 2-year-old boy found buried in a shallow grave at Cummings Park have pleaded guilty to all charges in connection with his death.
Edgar Ismalej-Gomez, 28, of Stamford, and Iris Rivera-Santos entered guilty pleas in Stamford Superior Court nearly three years after the body of Liam Rivera was discovered on Jan. 2, 2023.
Both defendants accepted court-offered dispositions carrying 16-year prison sentences and are scheduled to be formally sentenced on Feb. 10, 2026.
Rivera-Santos pleaded guilty to two counts of Risk of Injury to a Minor, two counts of Tampering With Evidence, Cruelty to Persons, Conspiracy to Commit Tampering With Evidence, Unlawful Removal of a Dead Body, and False Reporting of an Incident.
Ismalej-Gomez entered guilty pleas to Risk of Injury to a Minor, Cruelty to Persons, Tampering With Evidence, Conspiracy to Commit Tampering With Evidence, Unlawful Removal of a Dead Body, Hindering Prosecution, Violation of a Protective Order, and Violation of Probation.
The Stamford Police Department’s Major Crimes Unit initiated an investigation after the child’s body was discovered in the park.
Detectives identified significant inconsistencies in statements made by both parents during the investigation.
Evidence revealed Ismalej-Gomez’s involvement in conduct that endangered the child’s welfare prior to his death.
The investigation also uncovered longstanding concerns from the Department of Children and Families regarding Rivera-Santos, including chronic neglect, failure to obtain appropriate medical care, and a pattern of maltreatment.
Both defendants have remained in custody since their arrests in early 2023.
