Woman Sentenced to Life in Prison for Killing 4-Year-Old Son

GALVESTON, TX -- More than three years after the body of a 4-year-old boy was found on East Beach, his mother was sentenced to life in prison.

In 2017, the body of Jayden Alexander Lopez washed up on the beach. 

According to court documents, Jayden's body showed signs of torture, malnutrition, and pneumonia.

Prosecutors presented evidence that showed Jayden had scars consistent with being beaten with a hanger, had cigarette burns on his back, and ligature marks on his wrists and ankles.

In 2018, his mother, Rebecca Rivera, was indicted on one count of injury to a child causing serious bodily injury and tampering with physical evidence.

During the trial, the prosecution argued that Rivera admitted she would beat her son when she became frustrated with her girlfriend, Dania Amezquita Gomez.

Gomez was also charged in the case and testified against Rivera as part of her plea deal.

Rivera would ultimately admit to driving Jayden's body to Galveston after he died in Houston. Rivera told police Jayden's head injury had occurred after he ran into a wall.

Rivera was officially convicted of injury to a child by omission causing serious bodily injury and will be eligible for parole after serving 30 years in prison.