A 3 a.m. call from New Jersey investigators to a sheriff’s office in Tennessee led to the quick and forceful arrest of Tyler Rios, the man accused of abducting his 2-year-old son from Rahway on Friday and was the subject of an Amber Alert.
Rios, 27, is expected to be charged in the death of his ex girlfriend, Yasemin Uyar, 24, who Tennessee officers found near the hotel, shortly after the Saturday arrest, authorities said.
The arrest occurred in Monterey, a small town in Putnam County, about halfway between Nashville and Knoxville.
The Putnam County Sheriff’s Office said Sunday they received the 3 a.m. call from the Union County Prosecutor’s Office with information about Uyar, her son and Rios – and the Silver 2018 Ford Fiesta Rios was believed to be driving.
The Putnam sheriff’s office did not specifically say why Union investigators thought they might be in their county, but the Union investigators said Rios “may or could” harm the missing mother and son.
Roughly 15 minutes later, sheriff’s and Monterey police found the Ford parked outside the Bethel Inn & Suites, a motel sandwiched between a Burger King and pizza restaurant just off Interstate 40, which travels through the southern part of Monterey.
Authorities found Rios had rented a room, and attempted to convince him to give up and exit the room, the Putnam sheriff’s office said in an update on Facebook. Rios refused, and officers burst into the room.
Inside, authorities said his son, 2-year-old Sebastian Rios, was found unharmed, and quickly taken to a safe location. Investigators obtained a search warrant for the hotel room and the Ford Fiesta, which will include more forensic analysis, the office said.
Tyler Rios later cooperated and led investigators, including the FBI, to a location inside Monterey city limits on Highway 70 (near Interstate 40) where they found Uyar’s body.
Rios, a Highland Park native who was booked with an East Orange address, was arrested on a felony fugitive charge and is being held in the Putnam County Jail without bond while awaiting extradition to Union County.
He’s charged with kidnapping in Union County, as well as additional charges in Uyar’s death. Authorities in both states have not elaborated on the young woman’s death or which jurisdiction Rios would be charged.
“I am very pleased with the professionalism of Putnam Sheriff Deputies, Monterey Police Officers and the cooperation with other agencies involved,” Putnam County Sheriff Eddie Farris said on Facebook. “I am thankful for the wellbeing and unharmed two-year-old. I would also like to express my sadness regarding the death of Yasemin Uyar and condolences to her family and friends.”
Yasemin Uyar, 24, was reported missing on July 9 along with her son Sebastien Rios, 2, who was later found safe. Tyler Rios, the 27-year-old father of Sebastien, was arrested on July 10.Photo courtesy of Karen Uyar
Karen Uyar previously told NJ Advance Media that her daughter’s remains were found in the woods. She shared on social media that the family was told around 8 p.m. Saturday, three days after the two last spoke.
“While my family grieves the loss of Yasemin please remember she wasn’t just a (domestic violence) victim,” she wrote on Facebook. “She was a daughter, sister, mother, aunt and cousin. Her life will be celebrated as her greatest gift to this world.”
She described her daughter as a doting mother who struggled in an abusive relationship. The pair had been involved in a tumultuous on and off relationship since high school, but Rios’ violent behavior apparently escalated in recent months, she said.
Her daughter obtained a restraining order after Rios had previously choked her daughter and slammed her head into a wall. Yasemin Uyar had moved several times because she was afraid of him and was preparing to move once more when she went missing, her mother said.
Karen Uyar said she last saw her daughter on Wednesday and was not initially alarmed when a phone call went unanswered. But when Yasemin Uyar missed work and Sebastian was not dropped off at childcare Friday, a welfare check was ordered, and the two were discovered missing.
An Amber Alert was issued, leading to a multi-jurisdiction search for the mother and son.
Sebastian RiosNew Jersey State Police
Karen Uyar did not immediately respond to a call for comment Sunday evening.
Editor’s Note: Reach the New Jersey Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-572-SAFE (7233). Reach the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-SAFE (7233), chat with their advocates here or text LOVEIS to 22522.
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Staff writers Sean Sullivan and Sue Livio contributed to this report. Sophie Nieto-Munoz may be reached at snietomunoz@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her at @snietomunoz.
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