In a disturbing case from Texas, a 31-year-old man has pleaded guilty to helping his roommate, Theresa Balboa, conceal the body of 5-year-old Samuel Olson, whom she brutally beat to death during the COVID-19 quarantine.
Benjamin Rivera pleaded guilty on Thursday to one count of felony tampering with evidence, specifically the human corpse, in connection with Samuel’s tragic death in 2021. Rivera now faces decades in prison for his involvement in hiding the child’s body.
The Murder of Samuel Olson
Theresa Balboa, who was dating Samuel’s father at the time, initially claimed that the boy’s biological mother had taken him away on May 27, 2021. However, this story quickly fell apart when investigators discovered surveillance footage showing that Samuel’s biological mother was at her own home during that time.
In reality, Balboa had killed Samuel several weeks earlier, on May 10, 2021, and attempted to cover up the crime.
Authorities later learned that Balboa had called Rivera to inform him that Samuel was dead and unresponsive. Rivera, who had been working at the time, immediately left his job and returned to the home.
Upon arrival, he found Samuel unresponsive and bruised on a bed. According to a probable cause affidavit, Rivera and Balboa placed Samuel’s body in the bathtub, where it remained for two days before they began to take steps to hide it.
Cover-Up and Discovery
On May 13, 2021, Rivera purchased duct tape and a plastic tote from a local Wal-Mart. The affidavit reveals that he and Balboa wrapped Samuel’s body in a plastic sheet, placed it in the plastic tote, and transported it in Rivera’s vehicle to a storage unit in Webster, Texas.
The body remained in the storage unit for several days before they moved it again to a motel room in Jasper, Texas. It was there that police finally discovered Samuel’s body on June 2, 2021, after locating Balboa in the motel bathroom. When questioned about the boy’s whereabouts, Balboa coldly responded that he “was inside the box.”
Rivera was taken into custody more than two weeks later, after Samuel’s body had been discovered. At the time, Samuel would have been celebrating his sixth birthday, which fell on May 29, 2021.
Sentencing and Legal Consequences
Balboa, who was initially charged with capital murder, pleaded guilty to first-degree murder in 2023. She was sentenced to 52 years in prison but will be eligible for parole after serving just 26 years. Rivera’s sentencing is scheduled for October 20, 2025, and he faces up to 20 years in prison for his role in concealing the body.
The case of Samuel Olson’s murder is a heartbreaking reminder of the unimaginable pain a child can endure, and the cruel actions of those entrusted with their care.
Rivera’s involvement in the crime, though less violent than Balboa’s, still resulted in significant harm by helping to conceal the truth of Samuel’s death. As the legal proceedings continue, the tragedy has left the community in shock and mourning for a young life that was stolen far too soon.
