Bond denied for murder suspects

Cassie Cranford Rivera                   Alberto Rivera Jr.

A 35 year old Gadsden man charged in the 2013 death of a 3-week-old baby will remain in jail after an order by Etowah County Circuit Judge David Kimberley.

Alberto Rivera Jr., appeared Tuesday before Kimberley as his attorneys requested bond in the capital murder case. The judge said he would consider the motion, and ruled against bond Wednesday.

33 year old Cassie Cranford Rivera,  appeared Wednesday before Kimberley, also seeking bond. Defense attorneys argued she is entitled to bond under the protections of the Eighth Amendment, she had no criminal record and that she is not a flight risk.

Deputy District Attorney Carol Griffith said capital murder defendants are not guaranteed bond. When Rivera was arrested at an Attalla residence, detectives said she looked out the window and saw them and tried to hide. They were forced to breach the door of the residence and locate her.

Griffith said her attempt to evade arrest should be a consideration in whether or not she is a flight risk. And while she might not have a criminal record under the name Cassie Rivera, Griffith said, under the name Cassie Cranford she has pending second-degree theft and criminal mischief charges.

The state usually opposes bond in a case as horrific as the one in which the Riveras are charged. The blunt force trauma injury that killed their 3-week-old son was such that a simple autopsy could not determine the manner of injury. A forensic anthropologist examined the infant’s body and his report led to the charges against the couple.