Duval County Jury Finds Rivera Guilty of Attempted Murders, Arson

State Attorney Melissa Nelson announces that a Duval County jury found Carlos Rivera guilty of Attempted First-Degree Murder (Domestic), Attempted Second-Degree Murder (Domestic), and First-Degree Arson for stabbing his adult children and setting his home on fire. With the verdict, Rivera faces up to life in Florida State Prison. The Honorable Mark Borello will sentence Rivera at a later date.

In the early morning hours of May 14, 2018, the victim woke up to the smell of gasoline. Her children were asleep in her room with her. She opened her window for ventilation and then opened her bedroom door to find her father, Carlos Rivera, standing there with a butcher knife. He immediately stabbed her and continued to attack and stab her as they fell back into her bed. Her adult brother, who also lived in the home with his young son, heard the commotion and woke up. He grabbed a machete as protection and Rivera then stabbed him multiple times. While Rivera was attacking his son, his daughter snuck her two kids out of the bedroom window and brought them to the neighbor’s home. She called 911 and her brother eventually escaped with his child. Rivera then lit part of the home on fire and left out the back door. Rivera called 911 about 36 minutes later and was treated for minor injuries. He was arrested and, post-Miranda, admitted to setting fire to his home.

The case was investigated by the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office and the State Fire Marshal’s Office and prosecuted by Assistant State Attorneys William Grauel and Daley Pajcic.