Mr. Rivera was convicted of the first-degree murder of 11-year-old Staci Jazvac, who was abducted in January 1986. The jury voted unanimously to recommend a death sentence and Mr. Rivera was condemned. This Court upheld the sentence on direct appeal and Mr. Rivera filed a post-conviction claim in the trial court. It was denied and he appealed to this Court, which upheld the trial court on some points but sent the case back to the trial court for an evidentiary hearing on one issue. After the hearing, the trial court denied relief and, on appeal, this Court also denied relief. A second post-conviction claim by Mr. Rivera was also denied in circuit court. This appeal of that denial followed.