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Sean Rivera, 30, admitted to second-degree murder and multiple related charges for the killing of his 72-year-old mother, Carol J. Clark, in April 2023. Rivera drugged Clark, drove her to a shed in Philadelphia, and shot her multiple times, investigators said.
Rivera's negotiated plea includes life in prison without parole for the murder, and an additional concurrent sentence of 28 to 56 years for other charges, Common Pleas Judge Stephen A. Corr said in court. The judge also ordered Rivera to have no contact with surviving family members and to undergo mental health and substance abuse evaluations.
“The facts of this case are horrific,” Corr said while accepting Rivera’s plea.
Clark’s other children shared emotional statements in court, reflecting on her impact in communities across New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania. She dedicated her career to public service, working with organizations such as the New Jersey Department of Children and Families and the Religious Society of Friends in Philadelphia.
"You feel proud when you take inventory of a lifetime of work and accomplishment," one of her children said. "These were her proudest accomplishments aside from her kids and grandkids."
The investigation began on April 9, 2023, after a report of a domestic dispute between Rivera and his brother over Clark’s whereabouts. Detectives discovered that Rivera had drugged Clark with fentanyl the previous evening, transported her to the shed in Philadelphia, and killed her. Evidence including a Home Depot receipt for a padlock, bolt cutters, and a key recovered from Rivera linked him to the crime.
“This defendant has such a coldness of heart," Deputy District Attorney Jennifer Schorn said. "He took the life of the woman who gave him life all because she became care dependent and a burden to him. It’s senseless."
The case was investigated by Falls Township Police, the Bucks County District Attorney’s Office, and the Philadelphia Police Homicide Unit. It was prosecuted by Deputy District Attorneys Monica W. Furber and Christine Sassane.
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