A man accused by the police of killing his 9-year-old child by setting a car on fire behind a New Jersey school has died from severe injuries sustained in the incident.
Manuel Rivera from Sayreville, N.J., was pronounced dead on Wednesday, weeks after police allege he set a car on fire with his son inside, according to People.
Manuel, 43, was initially charged with aggravated arson.
However, authorities would later charge him with murder, endangering the welfare of a child, and desecration of human remains.
It remains unclear as to whether Christian Naszier Rivera died prior to the fire or in the fire on March 28.
On the evening of March 28, police responded to a fire and discovered Manuel near the burning car. He had sustained burn injuries and a self-inflicted cut across his throat and then doused the car in gasoline.
First responders found the body of Christian Rivera inside the vehicle.
Shortly after the fire, police responded to a domestic dispute call from a woman who reported that Manuel had left the house with Christian and had threatened to kill both the child and himself.
He reportedly left a suicide note and a video expressing remorse to his wife for what he had done.
Police have not revealed the cause behind Manuel's death.
