A Philadelphia man is now charged with the murder of his longtime partner after Maria Pagan was found allegedly beaten to death.
WPVI
Wednesday, September 30, 2026 2:17PM
PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) — A Philadelphia man is now charged with the murder of his longtime partner.
Melvin Rivera, 46, was arrested over the weekend.
Investigators say Maria Pagan, 48, was found dead from blunt force trauma last Thursday inside her home along the 1200 block of West Erie Avenue in North Philadelphia.
Pagan had a disability and was lying in her hospital bed, according to officials.
Police did not release details about a motive.
Rivera was denied bail and remains at Curran-Fromhold Correctional Facility, pending a prelim hearing that is scheduled for October 15.
The killing comes amid a campaign focused on ending domestic violence in Philadelphia.
“Women Against Abuse” plans to have a rally and resource fair in the City Hall Courtyard Wednesday afternoon. It’s part of the 19th annual iPledge Campaign.
Copyright © 2026 WPVI-TV. All Rights Reserved.