A Walk to Remember 6-Year-Old Who Died Protecting His Sister

"I want him to be remembered, the hero that he was."

One year after her 6-year-old Dominick died protecting his sister from an attacker, Debbie Burgos carries with her mementos of her son and the final act that possibly saved his older sister's life.

"I'm grateful for what my son did for my family, for myself also because I could have worked into that terribleness," Debbie Burgos said.

Dominick died as he fought off an intruder who investigators say was attacking Dominick's sister inside their Camden, N.J. home on the girl's 13th birthday.

County prosecutors say the little boy tried to protect his sister from Osvaldo Rivero who was trying to sexually assault her. Rivero reportedly told investigators he was smoking a combination of marijuana and PCP, known as "Wet" just before the killing. Investigators say Rivero, now 32, slashed the throats of both children after breaking into their Ware Street home in the early morning hours of Sept. 2, 2012.

A year later, Dominick's family continues to deal with the aftermath of the violent attack.

"No mother should go through a pain like this," Burgos said.

The attack left Dominick's sister hospitalized for about a month. Her family says she has physically recovered and even returned to school last year but Burgos tells NBC10's Katy Zachry that her daughter is still dealing with a lot emotionally.

The Burgos family has moved from the home where the attack occurred but they haven't forgotten what they lost there. Burgos says she hopes to keep Dominick's memory alive by holding an annual memorial walk.

"Just like he's kept alive in our home I want to world to keep him alive also," Burgos said.

The walk is set for 11:30 p.m. on Labor Day starting at 7th and Ware Streets in Camden and is open to the public. A memorial mass is planned for 10 a.m. that morning at St. Cecilia's Church at 4824 Camden Ave. in Pennsauken, N.J.

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