A 31-year-old man from Texas has pleaded guilty to helping hide the body of a 5-year-old boy who was beaten to death by his roommate during the COVID-19 lockdown. The case, which shocked the community in 2021, has now taken a major step forward in court.
Who Was the Victim?
The victim was Samuel Olson, a 5-year-old boy from Houston, Texas. He was reported missing on May 27, 2021. At the time, Samuel was in the care of Theresa Balboa, who was dating the boy’s father. She told police that Samuel’s biological mother had come with a police officer and taken him — but that story was proven false.
The Truth Behind Samuel’s Death
Police later found out that Samuel had actually died much earlier. Theresa Balboa had beaten the boy to death with a blunt object, according to investigators. Surveillance and evidence showed that the biological mother was not involved, and Balboa’s story quickly fell apart.
On May 10, Balboa called her roommate, Benjamin Rivera, and told him that Samuel was dead. Rivera returned home from work and found the child’s lifeless body on a bed, already bruised.
How They Tried to Hide the Crime
According to Rivera’s own confession, he and Balboa placed Samuel’s body in a bathtub for two days. On May 13, Rivera went to Walmart to buy duct tape and a plastic storage bin. Together, they wrapped the child’s body in a plastic sheet, put it into the bin, and then placed the bin in Rivera’s car.
They drove to a storage unit in Webster, Texas, and left the container there. Later, they moved the container to a motel in Jasper, Texas.
When police and Texas Rangers found Balboa on June 2, 2021, hiding in the motel bathroom, they asked where Samuel was. She reportedly replied, “He’s inside the box.”
Legal Consequences
Theresa Balboa pleaded guilty to murder in 2023 and was sentenced to 52 years in prison. She will be eligible for parole after 26 years.
Benjamin Rivera has now pleaded guilty to tampering with evidence — specifically, a human corpse. He is expected to be sentenced on October 20, 2025, and faces up to 20 years in prison.
Remembering Samuel
Samuel Olson would have turned six years old on May 29, 2021, just two days after he was reported missing. His tragic death has deeply affected the community and sparked conversations about child safety, neglect, and accountability.
This heartbreaking case is a painful reminder of how vulnerable children can be. While one person has already been sentenced, Benjamin Rivera’s guilty plea is another step toward justice for Samuel Olson.
As sentencing approaches, the focus remains on ensuring that those involved in this tragedy face the consequences of their actions.
