The widow of Rey Rivera told The Examiner that the reported note discovered after her husband?s disappearance is just “Rey?s writings,” not a suicide note, and that since her husband?s death she fears for her own safety.
“It?s definitely not a suicide note; it was just one of Rey?s writings,” Allison Rivera said.
Rivera said the “strangeness” of the case has her worried. “I am concerned about my safety. I think Rey?s death is bigger than what I understand,” she said.
Rey Rivera?s body was found in an abandoned second-floor office of The Belvedere in Mount Vernon on May 26 ? 10 days after he was reported missing.
A hole in the roof of the office indicated that Rivera, 32, had possibly jumped or been pushed from the top of the condo building hotel, but his wife said it was unlikely that her husband would venture to the top of The Belvedere. “He was petrified of heights. Why would he even be up there?” she said.
She said many aspects of the events leading up to Rey?s death don?t add up, including the fact that the couple planned to move back to Los Angeles in July. “We had four trips planned,” she said. “And Rey had just finished a screenplay.”
“I don?t know much about suicide, but it seems to me you don?t plan ahead like he did if you?re going to kill yourself,” she said.
She said that when her husband left the house the day he disappeared, he did not say anything to their houseguest, contrary to what has been reported. Allison Rivera was out of town on business that day.
“It?s very unusual for Rey to just leave without saying anything,” she said, adding that their houseguest heard Rivera make an exclamation of surprise and then left.
“The lights were on and his computer was running. Everything seemed to say, ?I?ll be right back,? ” she said.
Police spokesman Donny Moses said the case is under investigation.
Allison Rivera said a Web site has been set up both as a memorial to Rey and to raise funds for the production of his screenplay about a young woman?s struggles to succeed as a water polo player. She said she intends to make the movie with the help of Rey?s friends who have already donated money.
“That?s the magic of Rey,” she said. “He touched so many people.”
Donations can be made online at www.whereisrey.com.
