Woman Killed For Refusing to Abort Child

Source: The Oklahoman 5/21/1999 Oklahoma City

- Lorena Rivera was a proud mother whose 3-year-old son's name, Angel, was emblazoned across the rear windshield of her car. Friends and family said she was delighted about having another baby. Her obstetrician described her as bubbly. "She was really excited to be having another boy and had already named the boy Isaac," Dr. John Rose testified Thursday in Oklahoma County District Court. But prosecutors say the child's father, Nathaniel Dee Smith, did not share her joy. Assistant District Attorney Don Deason told jurors Thursday that Smith murdered Rivera "because she refused to have an abortion and he didn't want to pay child support." Smith, 20, is charged with first-degree murder in Rivera's death and manslaughter in the death of their unborn child. Rivera, 21, was at least 21 weeks pregnant when she disappeared from south Oklahoma City on April 29, 1997. A legal receptionist for Oklahoma City attorney Steve Nash, Rivera never made it to work that day after dropping off her son for day care. Her body was found more than a month later, buried in a garbage bag in a shallow Pottawatomie County grave near Pink. Rivera was shot twice and beaten. During his opening statement, Deason told jurors Smith met Rivera at Angel's day care that morning. They drove to Trosper Park where he shot her and put her in the trunk of his car, the prosecutor said. Rivera was still breathing when Smith later opened the trunk so he shot her again, the prosecutor alleged. "Apparently that didn't kill her quick enough for him either. Then he beat her to death," Deason told jurors. Witnesses testified Thursday that Smith was pressuring Rivera to have an abortion and threatened to kill her. "He told her she had ruined his life," said Susana Gomez, a friend of Rivera's. "She said if anything happened to her, I would already know who did it. She was referring to him." Gomez testified Rivera was in love with Smith and did not believe he had another girlfriend. Prosecutors said Smith did have another girlfriend, Virginia "Vickie" Rameriz, 17, who also is charged with first- degree murder and manslaughter. She was charged as Smith's co-defendant but a judge ordered separate trials. Her trial is scheduled in October. Rivera's roommate, Margarita Garay-Martinez, testified Smith called Rivera the night before she disappeared. Smith wanted to know when Rivera went to work and when she took Angel to day care, she testified. Garay-Martinez told jurors Smith stopped coming to their house after learning Rivera was pregnant. She also testified Smith wanted Rivera to get an abortion. "She said she would never do that," Garay-Martinez said. Felicia Lewis, who was director at Angel's day care, testified she saw Rivera on the morning of April 29, 1997. Rivera was leaving the building when someone across the street honked at her, she said. Rivera waved and then drove over to meet the person, Lewis said. Lewis never saw the person Rivera met but prosecutors say the description of the person's vehicle matches Smith's car. Testimony continues in the case.