Jorelys Rivera's Mother Sues River Ridge

The mother of slain 7-year-old Jorelys Rivera is suing the apartment complex where her daughter was murdered, saying an adequate background check was not conducted on the maintenance man who committed the crime.

Joselyn Rivera filed the civil lawsuit last week in Fulton County State Court. The lawsuit contends that the apartment complex didn't conduct an adequate check of Brunn's background when he was hired and that he was kept on staff after several residents complained that he would "linger" at the complex's playground and watch the children.

When reached for comment on Monday, Cady Scott Seabaugh, a spokeswoman for McCormack Baron, which manages the River Ridge complex, referred to a statement released when Brunn was arrested in December.

"River Ridge, like all properties we manage, receives regular outside evaluations and reviews for management practices," the statement said. "The River Ridge property has consistently received high marks in these independent reviews.  It is our policy that all residents and all employees undergo and clear criminal background checks, including screens for sex offender registries, prior to employment or residence approval."

Last year, a representative told Canton-Sixes Patch that .

An autopsy found that Jorelys likely died 60 to 90 minutes after she disappeared. Jorelys had been compacted, but not before she was . Her throat was slit. 

Brunn  and was sentenced to life in prison without parole. . 

Joselyn Rivera is working to set up a nonprofit foundation in her daughter's name that would provide moral and financial support to other families who suffer as she has, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported. An event was held last Wednesday in Atlanta for the foundation, and now organizers are tasked with deciding where and how to operate it.

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