Connecticut
Connecticut boy, 10, sends emotional message to father’s Halloween killer during sentencing: ‘Taken from me too early’
A 10-year-old Connecticut boy heart-wrenchingly revealed that he didn’t have enough time with his late father, who was stabbed to death before they could go trick-or-treating on Halloween five years earlier.
Fernando “Chino” Rivera’s son, “Niko,” bravely delivered the powerful victim statement before his father’s killer, Terrence Johnson, was sentenced to 38 years in prison on Tuesday.
“I didn’t get enough time (with dad)…My dad deserved to stay. My dad was taken from me too early,” Niko said in a video played in the Superior Court in Milford, according to the Harford Courant.
Niko had been waiting for his father to come home so that the pair could celebrate their Halloween together in 2020, but Rivera never returned.
The 35-year-old was at the corner of Elm Street and Washington Avenue in West Haven, Conn., when Johnson, then 18, stabbed him from behind.
Rivera, who was engaged to Niko’s mother Lindsee Baez, was seriously injured in the attack and died from a neck injury at Yale New Haven Hospital the next day, according to his obituary.
Niko, only being five, was told his father died of a “boo-boo.”
Johnson was arrested and charged with murder, according to court records viewed by The Post.
He fleshed out a plea deal with prosecutors to reduce his sentence to between 30 and 45 years, Baez told the outlet.
The boy recommended to the court that Johnson deserved to be booked in prison for a century, despite the killer getting under four decades.
“I wish he would go away and stay in jail for 100 years,” Niko said. “I want (dad) to know I miss him so much.”
Loved ones said Rivera’s greatest joy was “being a father and spending time with his son.”
Baez was hopeful her fiancé’s killer would spend the rest of his life in jail “in a perfect world,” but conceded to the sentencing being “a semblance of justice,” she told the court.
“You stole a life, you stole dreams, and you stole love, and no sentence can ever undo the damage you caused,” she furiously told Johnson.
“At the end of my day, my son doesn’t have a dad,” Baez said.
Rivera, a 6-foot, 350-pound man known for his tattoos, was remembered for his gentle soul, who became a stay-at-home dad after his son’s birth, affectionately being called “Papa Bear,” in the maternity ward, Baez said.
“He was truly my best friend,” she said, according to the outlet.
“We grew up together, from our teenage years into adulthood,” Baez recalled on her 17-year relationship with Rivera. “The road was bumpy along the way, but we never gave up on each other. We chose our family every single day, and that choice made him so happy.”
According to Love Food, the best bowl of ramen in Connecticut isn’t tucked away in one of the state’s larger cities. Instead, you’ll have to make your way to Granby, where Tiger Belly Noodle Bar has earned national recognition for serving what the publication says is Connecticut’s top ramen.
If you’re expecting a massive menu with dozens of choices, that’s not what you’ll find here. Tiger Belly keeps things relatively simple, focusing on a handful of carefully crafted noodle dishes that have developed a loyal following. The standout, according to Love Food, is the restaurant’s aptly named Darkness Ramen.
This isn’t your average bowl of noodles. The star of the dish is a rich tonkotsu broth that’s simmered for more than 25 hours to develop its deep, savory flavor. It’s then topped with tender pork belly, enoki mushrooms, plenty of garlic, and finished with black garlic oil for an extra layer of richness. The result is a bowl that’s hearty, comforting, and packed with bold flavors.
Ramen has exploded in popularity across the United States over the past decade, with restaurants putting their own spin on the classic Japanese comfort food. Whether you prefer a traditional pork-based broth, spicy variations, seafood, or vegetarian options, there’s no shortage of great places to grab a bowl these days. But when it came to picking just one restaurant in Connecticut, Love Food says Tiger Belly Noodle Bar stands above the rest.
So, if you’re the type of person who’s willing to take a road trip for great food, Granby might deserve a spot on your list. A slow-simmered broth, fresh ingredients, and a little black garlic magic were apparently enough to earn this Connecticut restaurant some well-deserved national bragging rights.
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Leon Davidson of White Plains, NY, had a résumé packed with top-level science work — from IBM and Union Carbide to atomic research and sci-fi writing. But when he turned his focus to UFOs, what followed was a strange paper trail that linked him to the CIA, classified communications, and government efforts to shut him down. The story you’re about to see reveals what those efforts looked like — and why they may have gone to such great lengths.
Gallery Credit: Lou Milano
Park Ranger Ben Croll says outdoor plans for kids attending New Haven’s parks and rec summer camp at West Rock Ridge state park are changing with the wind, after thick smoke from Canada’s wildfires continues to make its way through the Connecticut skies.
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A husky jumped into action to protect a child as a bear charged at them through the yard in Connecticut.
If you’re looking for the best barbecue restaurant in the state, you may have to drive to the state’s capital.
Business Insider identified the most beloved barbecue spot in each state, including Connecticut.
“Our list includes barbecue destinations with historical or regional significance and devoted national or local followings,” Business Insider said. “Many of the spots or their pitmasters have won major accolades, and some have appeared on mainstream TV shows.”
Business Insider’s choice for the most iconic place for barbecue in Connecticut is a specific location of a chain restaurant that has multiple stores in the Constitution State.
Here’s what Business Insider had to say about Bear’s Smokehouse Barbecue, and why it might be worth the extra trip to Hartford, Connecticut.
Bear’s Smokehouse — Hartford, Connecticut
Business Insider said the Hartford location is the most iconic Bear’s Smokehouse in Connecticut. However, Bear’s has locations in Windsor, New Haven, South Windsor, and Storrs (although that one is in a University of Connecticut Student Union).
“Local outlet Hartford Courant named Bear’s Smokehouse the best ribs and best food truck in the state,” Business Insider said. “USA Today also named it one of the best restaurants in the country in 2026 (albeit, one of the North Carolina locations).”
Chain restaurant or not, this location’s menu appears to have all the goods that make a barbecue restaurant great: beef brisket, burnt ends, pulled pork, and turkey breast, all done up in a Kansas-City style of barbecue that would make Ted Lasso proud.
They also offer some innovative takes on hearty dishes like poutine with Bear Style Poutine, which comes with fries, spicy cheese curds, brisket gravy, and your choice of meat.
You can find Bear’s Smokehouse at 25 Front St, Hartford, Connecticut.
They open at 11 a.m. on weekdays and weekends but their closing hours vary depending on the day.
Rin Velasco is a trending reporter. She can be reached at rvelasco@usatodayco.com.
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