Scars run deep for Camden family who lost son

Some scars fade with time, but for one Camden family, the wounds run too deep.

"I want this animal to suffer," Debbie Burgos said in court Thursday as the man who killed her son and sexually assaulted her daughter sat within arm's reach.

"He deserves to fear for his life, like my children did in their own home."

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Osvaldo Rivera, 33, of Camden was sentenced to 110 years in prison Thursday, bringing an end to the case surrounding one of the city's most heinous crimes.

Rivera broke into a Ware Street home in the early morning hours of Sept. 2, 2012, grabbed a knife and held it to 12-year-old Amber Andujar's throat as he raped her.

When the girl's 6-year-old brother, Dominick, tried to stop Rivera, he slit the boy's throat in a sawing action, killing him. In her escape, Amber slipped on a puddle of her own blood and was cut twice by Rivera — including gashes so deep first responders reported they could see her vocal cords.

Thick scars remain there.

"Grown men wouldn't do what Dominick did that day," said Tiarra Andujar, one of the boy's three sisters. "He's our soldier and will forever be in our hearts until the day we die."

Emotions ran high in court when several family members wept as they recounted the attack. Over a dozen people read witness impact statements.

"Our hearts are bleeding, and I wouldn't wish it on anyone," said Peter Burgos, an uncle. "There is no one who will ever replace that missing link, but we will stick together as a family."

Amber Andujar, now 14, fought back tears as she gave her statement in court. She said the memories of the attack will haunt her forever.

"Today I stand here as a survivor," said the petite but strong-willed teen. "Even though he (Rivera) took a part of me away, in the end, you did not win.

"We won because I made it."

Several representatives from the Camden County Police Department and the Camden County Prosecutor's Office were also present in court. Camden Police Chief Scott Thomson described the defendant as the "personification of cowardice and evil."

"There is no sentence or punishment harsh enough for this amoral individual."

Though the family will never get over Dominick's death, they said, they found some comfort knowing Rivera will spend the rest of his life in jail.

Thomson called Dominick's actions to save his sister "one of the most heroic acts of self-sacrifice."

"Dominick will always be remembered as Camden's littlest hero," he added.

Rivera did not speak in court Thursday, but Judge Michelle Fox and Assistant Prosecutor Christine Shah said he denied his involvement in the crime.

He also showed no remorse for the family, which is part of the reason Shah pushed for a life sentence.

"Osvaldo Rivera is a violent and dangerous pedophile," remarked Shah. "He received the sentence he deserved."

Rivera had previously rejected a plea deal of 65 years in prison in exchange for a guilty plea. He went to trial in July and was convicted of murder, attempted murder, aggravated sexual assault, burglary and terroristic threats.

Reach Phil Dunn at (856) 486-2456 or pdunn@courierpostonline.com. Follow him on Twitter @philmdunn.