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Official cause of death released for Katrina Rivera, unborn son

Vela says he cut the unborn child out of the mom
Posted at 6:11 PM, Dec 14, 2016
and last updated 2016-12-15 00:57:11-05

Katrina Rivera and her unborn baby son were killed on December 10 after a pursuit that ended in East Bakersfield.

Manuel Vela, the driver of the vehicle, was stopped near Mount Vernon and Flower Streets, close to East Bakersfield High School. Officers say that Vela exited the vehicle with an infant, whom he left at the scene and ran. Rivera's dead body was in the car.

Deputies were able to catch Vela and take him into custody. Vela later confessed to killing Rivera and claimed he cut the baby out of the womb.

The cause of death for 30-year-old Katrina Rivera was neck compression and the manner of death was a homicide, according to KCSO.

Her baby son's cause of death was asphyxia and the manner of death was a homicide.

RELATED: Infant and mother dead after East Bakersfield pursuit, boyfriend Manuel Vela in police custody