‘Extremely grateful’ NJ mom presses on after daughter’s ex-boyfriend indicted in killing – My Central Jersey
Karen Uyar is grateful a grand jury has returned a six-count indictment against the man charged with her daughter’s slaying, but she will not rest.
Uyar, of Highland Park, who has made it her mission to help victims of domestic violence and has called for lawmakers to reform New Jersey’s domestic violence laws since her 24-year-old daughter Yasemin’s death in July, will be a guest speaker at Women Aware’s virtual Candlelight Vigil on Oct. 13.
Women Aware is the state-designated comprehensive domestic violence service agency for Middlesex County. The organization shelters 200 women and children in imminent danger and serves an additional 1,800 women, children and men in safety-net programs.
The vigil, which will stream on social media, will be held at 7 p.m. The event is open to the public and free to attend. Register to attend at bit.ly/3onIGrK.
Uyar will detail Yasemin’s history of abuse by her alleged killer, Tyler Rios, who she met when they both attended Highland Park High School.
Uyar said her focus is on the lack of police support for domestic violence reporting and victims, as well as the need for harsher penalties and no deals for repeat offenders.
For subscribers:Friend of slain Rahway mother details abusive relationship
The vigil will include an advocate address from Siyan Bradley, the founder of the Renee J. Bradley Foundation for Domestic Violence and a member of Women Aware’s board of directors, and music by Sami Stevens from Music for All Seasons, a longtime partner of Women Aware whose mission is bringing the healing power of music to those in need.
The need for Women Aware’s services to survivors of domestic violence has grown during the COVID-19 pandemic, and the agency’s delivery of services has expanded. Donations to the organization’s vigil help support services for survivors and their children.
Related:Women Aware provides domestic violence support 24/7
Indictments on murder, kidnapping charges
Rios, 27, of East Orange, was indicted by a Union County grand jury Wednesday in the July killing of Yasemin Uyar, his ex-girlfriend and the mother of his then 2-year-old son, as well as the kidnapping of the boy, both first-degree crimes.
Rios also is charged with one count each of desecrating human remains, endangering the welfare of a child, contempt by violating a domestic violence restraining order and theft.
“We are extremely grateful for those charges,” Uyar said.
‘Yasemin was a great mom’:Mother of slain Rahway woman speaks out
The indictment alleges Rios kidnapped his son, Sebastian, and murdered Yasemin on July 8.
A New Jersey State Police Amber Alert was issued after the boy failed to show up for day care on July 9 and Yasemin, a Rahway resident, didn’t report for her scheduled work shift. A multi-state investigation led to the boy’s safe recovery on July 10 and the discovery of Yasemin’s body later that day in Tennessee, with the assistance of the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office.
Uyar recently visited the location where her daughter’s half-naked body was left stuffed in a duffel bag and discarded in the woods off a highway. The family placed flowers and a cross at the site.
An autopsy revealed Yasemin had been strangled and suffered blunt-force trauma two days before her remains were recovered.
Court papers revealed that before being taken into custody, Rios called someone he knew and allegedly admitted to having possession of his son and allegedly reported he had killed Uyar, and that her body had been in the vehicle “for days” before he disposed of it off Interstate 40.
New Jersey State Police were able to determine the phone call was made from the area of the Bethel Inn and Suites in Monterey, Tennessee, where local law enforcement officers found Rios had rented a room. After he refused to leave the room, police went in and took him into custody and moved the toddler to a safe location. Yasemin’s car was found in the motel parking lot and her debit card was in the room.
Rios later led law enforcement officers to Yasemin’s body. He was brought back to New Jersey on July 16 and remains in custody at the Essex Couny Jail in Newark. An Oct. 12 post-indictment arraignment is scheduled before Superior Court Judge John M. Deitch in Newark.
“We are grateful for the collaboration with the many local and federal law enforcement agencies who assisted our office in not only apprehending Mr. Rios, but also in safely recovering Sebastian Rios, locating Ms. Uyar’s remains and bringing them both home to their family” Union County Prosecutor William Daniel said. “And we hope that this can bring some small measure of comfort to all those grieving Yasemin.”
How you can help
Women Aware seeks financial support to continue to provide free and confidential services 24/7 to anyone in Middlesex County who seeks help moving beyond abuse.
Donate online at bit.ly/3onIGrK; text donate to 202-858-1233, Code WA2021; or mail donations with checks payable to Women Aware, 2021 Candlelight Vigil, 250 Livingston Ave., New Brunswick, NJ 08901.
Email: srussell@gannettnj.com
Suzanne Russell is a breaking news reporter for MyCentralJersey.com covering crime, courts and other mayhem. To get unlimited access, please subscribe or activate your digital account today.