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Alberto L. Sierra Jr., 32, pleaded not guilty on May 18, 2023, after being indicted by a Massachusetts grand jury for the murder of 5-year-old Jeremiah Oliver. The young boy was last seen alive in late 2013 and his body was discovered in a suitcase off Interstate 190 on April 18, 2014. The medical examiner had determined that Jeremiah Oliver was the victim of "homicidal violence of undetermined etiology."
Trigger warning: This article contains mentions of the death of a child. Discretion is advised.
Worcester County District Attorney Joseph D. Early Jr. also made an announcement that Sierra faces charges of murder and disinterring of a body. The DA said that Sierra, who was Jeremiah's mother's boyfriend at the time of the murder, is currently being held without bail, and will appear in court again on May 25.
Both Jeremiah Oliver's mother, Elsa Oliver, and Alberto Sierra have previously served prison sentences, but not for the abuse of the five-year-old. Sierra was convicted in 2017 for abusing Jeremiah's siblings and his mother. Meanwhile, Elsa Oliver pleaded guilty the same year to abusing and endangering her two other children.
Tumultuous upbringing, disappearance, and death of five-year-old Jeremiah Oliver
Alberto Sierra admitted in a letter presented as court evidence that he assisted Elsa Oliver in disposing of the boy's body. The letter, transcribed by another inmate, accused Elsa of being an abusive and unfit mother, as reported by Mass Live. Sierra was convicted of the abuse of his then-girlfriend Elsa as well as her kids, Jeremiah's siblings in 2017.
Elsa Oliver pleaded guilty to child assault and battery. She also pleaded guilty to reckless endangerment of her other two children. Despite previous concerns about her mental state, she was deemed competent to stand trial in 2015.
Alberto Sierra accused her of continuing to collect supplemental security income checks for Jeremiah Oliver even after his death. However, charges against Elsa for her alleged involvement in her son's death were dropped to prevent double jeopardy law. Sierra and Elsa Oliver were both released from prison in 2020.
Authorities also arrested Alberto Sierra's brother, Christian for providing false information to investigators. He was sentenced to serve 2.5 years in prison. Two other individuals, Cailey Thibault and Ashley Cormier, received probation sentences for lying to investigators.
The circumstances surrounding Jeremiah's upbringing were tumultuous, with Elsa frequently having to relocate her family due to mental health issues. She met Sierra in the spring of 2013 and began a relationship with him. She knew of Sierra's history of alleged domestic violence. Prior girlfriends had filed restraining orders against him, accusing him of causing visible injuries, as reported by Boston.com.
Incidents at home raised concerns, leading DCF representatives to seek custody of Elsa's three children in December 2013. However, by that time, Jeremiah Oliver was already missing.
Jeremiah Oliver's sister told the police that Sierra had threatened Elsa with a knife and had physically harmed Jeremiah, even knocking him off a toilet. She also mentioned witnessing Jeremiah with a bloody pinky finger, suggesting a possible severe injury.
Systemic flaws highlighted within the Massachusetts Department of Children and Families through Jeremiah Oliver's case
The disappearance and death of Jeremiah Oliver in September 2013 led to a thorough investigation of the Massachusetts Department of Children and Families (DCF). The investigation uncovered severe deficiencies within DCF and resulted in the resignation of Commissioner Olga Roche. Alberto L. Sierra Jr.
Jeremiah was in the care of the Massachusetts DCF, but the agency admitted to serious lapses in supervision. Caseworkers failed to carry out required home visits and even attempted to cover up their negligence by providing false information.
It was revealed that a DCF social worker had neglected eight mandatory monthly visits with Jeremiah Oliver, which coincided with the period when he went missing. Additionally, at least five infants or preschoolers whose families were being monitored by the DCF died when Olga Roche was its Commissioner, as reported by the Boston Globe.
Jeremiah Oliver's case highlighted the tragic consequences of systemic failures within the Massachusetts Department of Children and Families. It prompted an independent report, terminations, and a reassessment of protocols for responding to abuse and neglect cases.
Former Massachusetts governor Charlie Baker implemented changes to the policies of DCF in response to the tragic case of Jeremiah Oliver. It included the elimination of a two-track system for abuse and neglect reports.
Additionally, it was mandated that "non-emergency" reports of abuse and neglect be reviewed and screened within one business day. This was a significant reduction from the previous three-day timeframe. However, emergency reports still required an immediate decision and investigatory response within two hours.
As mentioned earlier, after pleading not guilty to the death of Jeremiah, Sierra is being held without bail and is set to appear in court on May 25, 2023.
