On August 5, 1982, Father Reynaldo left St. Francis Cathedral to meet a man who called himself Michael Carmello at the rest stop on La Bajada Hill. He was reported missing the following morning when he failed to return to the Cathedral.- An aerial search of the area was conducted on August 7, but Officer Eric Lucero and pilot Gary Aycock had flown toward Cochiti, along the highway. They were looking for Father Rivera’s car, not his body. They went towards Waldo where Father Geier told them that Michael Carmello’s grandfather had a ranch. Father Rivera’s body was located on the other side of the highway, north of where the aerial search was conducted.

Promo LA Not So Confidential

Written and Researched by Jackie Moranty check out her show Cause of Death: 100 Seconds to Midnight.

Tickets for the live show on March 5th