Police Identify Decapitated Body As Missing Lawrence Teen

LAWRENCE (CBS) -- Police identified the decapitated body found Thursday by the Merrimack River in Lawrence as missing teen Lee Manuel Viloria-Paulino.

The Essex County District Attorney's office identified a headless body found near the riverbank as belonging to Viloria-Paulino, a 16-year-old who went missing on Nov. 18.

"This is a tragic loss for his family and friends," District Attorney Jonathan Blodgett said in a statement.  "We are working tirelessly to determine the person or persons responsible for Mr. Viloria-Paulino's death."

Police discovered a decapitated body at about 2:45 p.m. Thursday near the Merrimack River bank off Water Street, according to the DA's office, after a woman walking her dog reported it. The head was discovered nearby

Mayor Dan Rivera says the community is not in danger.

In a press conference Friday, Rivera said he's concerned about the violence involved in decapitating a body, but stressed police do believe the community is safe.

"I share everyone's frustration and anger about the incident itself, about the lack of information currently available and, frankly, about how this could happen in our community," Rivera said.  "We know enough that this is not a random act."

Police are still investigating the circumstances surrounding Viloria-Paulino's death. In the mean time, Rivera asked people ignore any information circulating on social media.

"If you don't  have (the DA's office) as a source, I would question the information," Rivera said.

Many were upset by the course of the investigation, though.

"When the family reached the Mayor's office asking him for help finding the kid, why didn't he call the media and tell you to help us find this kid?" School Committee member Francisco Paulino said. "If he had done that, maybe that kid would be alive today."

On Friday, family and friends of Viloria-Paulino gathered near the crime scene.

"Everything is going through my mind. I am so scared, nervous, I can't eat, I can't focus," Carmin Checo said Thursday, before police had identified the body.

Viloria-Paulino went missing on Nov. 18 around 6 or 7 p.m., according to the DA's office. His father grabbed a sweatshirt from the scene where the body was found in case it belongs to his son.

The DA's office called the death shocking.

"This is obviously shocking and disconcerting news, however, based upon our investigation, we believe it is an isolated incident," Blodgett said in a statement. "In order to protect the integrity of the investigation, my office is not able to release detailed information, nor will we engage in speculation about the facts and circumstances of this suspected homicide."

On Friday, police were back in the area where the body was found.

No arrests had been made as of Friday evening. Rivera asked anyone with information on the death to call 978-745-8908.