11-year-old dies after days in a coma, possibly exposed to powerful painkiller; suspect arrested: Cops

Authorities in Massachusetts say a man is behind bars after his arrest on suspicion of killing a young girl unresponsive at the home of a relative last month.

The girl was transported to Tufts Medica Center via air ambulance, as reported by WBZ. She was pronounced dead after spending several days in a coma.

According to WFXT, 58-year-old Miguel Rivera was arrested on Friday evening, accused of involvement in the death of 11-year-old Precious Wallaces.

The victim has been identified as a sixth grade student at Consentino Middle School in Haverhill.

As of the latest reports available, the chief medical examiner’s office had completed its autopsy of Wallaces but has not issued a report indicating her cause or manner of death.

A statement from Essex District Attorney Jonathan Blodgett and Lawrence Police Chief Roy Vasque indicates Rivera is expected to face criminal charges including one count of permitting substantial bodily injury to a child and one count of misleading a police investigation.

Early reports indicated detectives were interested in determining whether the girl had ingested a prescription opioid known as fentanyl, which is as much as 100 times more potent than morphine.

Riviera remained behind bars with bail set at $1 million as of the most recent court records. He is expected to appear in court for an arraignment on Tuesday and authorities indicate additional charges could still be filed against him.

Relatives are still looking for answers, as Precious Wallaces’ aunt explained in a social media statement shortly after her death.

“We are as clueless as everyone else is,” Cathie Rivera wrote.

[Featured image: Precious Wallaces, handout]