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Thread: Christopher Otero-Rivera and Angel Rivera Sentenced to Life in Prison in 2019 FL Slaying of Nicole Montalvo

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    Christopher Otero-Rivera and Angel Rivera Sentenced to Life in Prison in 2019 FL Slaying of Nicole Montalvo





    Nicole Montalvo's Husband, Father-in-Law Charged With Murder

    By Rebecca Turco
    Spectrum News

    ST. CLOUD, Fla. — The human remains recovered from the yard of a St. Cloud home are of Nicole Montalvo, who had stopped by there Monday night to drop off her son and hadn't been seen since, the Osceola County Sheriff said Sunday.

    The investigation into the disappearance of Montalvo now has turned from a missing person's case to a murder investigation, Sheriff Russ Gibson said during a brief news conference.

    Montalvo's estranged husband, Christopher Otero-Rivera, and his father, Angel Rivera, were arrested Friday night on charges unrelated to the Montalvo case. At the time, Sheriff's officials called them persons of interest.

    By Sunday afternoon, a charge of premeditated murder had been brought against both Otero-Rivera and Rivera.

    During a second brief news conference later that night, Gibson said a warrant search at a second home on Henry J Avenue turned up more human remains. That home was also owned by the Rivera family, Gibson said. Based on that and other evidence, detectives established probable cause to charge Otero-Rivera and Rivera with first-degree murder.

    "We want to implore people out there that this investigation is by no means over. ... We're just scratching the surface with the information we've uncovered so far," Gibson said.

    At Broadway Pizza Bar in Kissimmee, a sign on the door said the restaurant was closed for the evening "in remembrance of our server Nicole Montalvo."

    "No matter how minute a role you may have played in this heinous murder, we are closing in on all of you. (To) every one of you, there is no rock you can hide under, no pond we can't drain to find the evidence we need to substantiate a guilty verdict in this case," Gibson said.

    Montalvo's last known location was at the home on Hixon Avenue, where she'd gone Monday night to drop off her young son to his father and grandparents.

    By Wednesday, her parents had reported her missing.

    Authorities began searching the property Thursday, and less than 24 hours later found what Gibson described as possible human remains in the backyard.

    On Sunday, deputies could be seen digging in the woods beyond the house on the 5-acre Hixon Avenue property. Authorities also drained a pond behind the house Saturday and Sunday.

    Otero-Rivera faced a judge Sunday morning and was being held without bond at the Osceola County Jail. Rivera was transported to a hospital after his arrest after he complained of shortness of breath, according to Osceola County Sheriff’s Lt. Justin Boutilier. Rivera’s first appearance in court was scheduled for Monday but is dependent on his release from the hospital.

    Gibson said there will be a candlelight vigil held in Montalvo's honor at the St. Cloud waterfront Monday night, and Gibson will be there.

    Previous charges against Otero-Rivera

    Investigators said Otero-Rivera has a history of domestic violence against Montalvo. According to an Osceola Sheriff's Office affidavit dated October 4, 2018, Otero-Rivera, with help from another woman, kidnapped and attacked Montalvo after luring her under the pretense of needing a ride because of a dead truck battery.

    Montalvo was taken to an isolated road in Poinciana, where she was thrown to the ground, attacked, and threatened over texts she sent to a friend and for "taking his (Otero-Rivera's) son," the affidavit said. About $40 and debit cards that Montalvo were missing after the alleged attack were found in Otero-Rivera's wallet, said St. Cloud Police, investigators wrote.

    Multiple felony charges were filed, but according to court documents, the state declined to prosecute the more serious charges of kidnapping with intent to inflict bodily harm and robbery during a plea deal. And the judge withheld adjudication on Otero-Rivera for the charges of tampering with a witness to hinder communication to law enforcement, unlawful possession of a stolen debit card, and battery.

    Otero-Rivera was under house arrest and probation at the time Montalvo disappeared.

    https://www.mynews13.com/fl/orlando/...icole-montalvo
    "I realize this may sound harsh, but as a father and former lawman, I really don't care if it's by lethal injection, by the electric chair, firing squad, hanging, the guillotine or being fed to the lions."
    - Oklahoma Rep. Mike Christian

    "There are some people who just do not deserve to live,"
    - Rev. Richard Hawke

    “There are lots of extremely smug and self-satisfied people in what would be deemed lower down in society, who also deserve to be pulled up. In a proper free society, you should be allowed to make jokes about absolutely anything.”
    - Rowan Atkinson

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    Florida sheriff calls woman's domestic abuse murder worst he's ever seen, calls for laws to change

    By Hollie MacKay
    Fox News

    As the tight-knit community of Osceola County, Florida mourns last week’s brutal murder of Nicole Montalvo, Sheriff Russ Gibson is left wondering if and how the justice system failed the young mother and longtime victim of domestic violence.

    “I’m so angry what these people have done to this sweet woman, at a time in her life when she felt as though she had finally broken free (from the relationship) and was so happy to have made her first month’s rent,” Gibson told Fox News in an exclusive interview on the case. “Many times, victims of domestic violence don’t know how to break free, but she was out there on her own getting it done. Now she is dead.”

    The 33-year-old, a smiling employee at Broadway Pizza Bar in downtown Kissimmee, was reported missing last Wednesday after having dropped their 8-year-old son Elijah off at school in St. Cloud on Monday, and not returning to collect him. Investigators discovered human remains at a property belonging to Montalvo’s in-laws on Friday; authorities confirmed the identity of the remains as Montalvo two days later.

    Montalvo’s estranged husband and the father of their son, Christopher Otero-Rivera, 31, and his father Angel Luis Rivera, 63, were arrested that same day on unrelated charges. After the grim confirmation on Sunday, the men were charged with premeditated murder and are currently being held at the Osceola County Jail without bond.

    According to Gibson, the remains – which are still being examined by the coroner – were disassembled, and the situation so far marks the worst he has seen in his 32 years as a homicide detective and sheriff.

    “When this autopsy is done, people are going to be horrified,” he continued, noting that autopsy results are expected next week.

    But this was hardly the first allegedly savage encounter Montalvo had faced at the hands of Otero-Rivera, with whom she had filed for divorce. According to court filings, Montalvo sought the help of law enforcement on numerous occasions, and incidences of violence had escalated over several years.

    She is said to have first filed for a restraining order in June 2016, alleging that her husband attacked their son, who was 5 years old at the time.

    Photos of Montalvo sporting bruises and a neck brace were also included in court petitions, according to the Orlando Sentinel. The paper also reported that Montalvo had indicated in filings that Otero-Rivera had previously been involuntarily committed to hospital under the state’s Baker’s Act, which allows a 72-hold for those believed to be a danger to themselves or others.

    Yet the worst incident came in October 2018. Montalvo told law enforcement that Otero-Rivera texted her about an urgent breakdown with his truck and that he needed a ride. However, he then led her to a barren area where another car with an awaiting female – identified as Toni Rocker and known to Montalvo – pulled up.

    Montalvo was subsequently dragged from her vehicle and thrown to the ground. After her husband purportedly stuffed a cloth in her mouth and attempted to break her neck, Rocker was accused of holding a knife to her throat and threatening to kill her if she told anyone about the attack.

    The pair were arrested.

    Rocker, 31, went to trial on charges of kidnapping, robbery, and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon but was acquitted by a jury in April. According to Gibson, she is not a suspect in Montalvo’s murder and has cooperated with investigators.

    Meanwhile, Otero-Rivera pled no contest to hindering a witness’s ability to communicate with law enforcement, unlawful possession of a credit or debit card, and battery. The more serious charges of kidnapping, robbery, and aggravated assault were dropped in the agreement.

    After serving just eight months behind bars, he was released on two years of probation – which included wearing an ankle bracelet for monitoring.

    Moreover, Otero-Rivera was banned from communicating with Montalvo except for in a parenting cellphone application but has since been charged with violating a no-contact order after admitting to calling her. His father, a convicted felon, was initially apprehended Friday on charges of unlawful weapons and ammunition possession.

    “This is a person who already tried to snap Nicole’s neck, and he took this plea deal,” Gibson lamented. “Domestic violence should not be a misdemeanor; they should be a felony. If weapons are used, they can be enhanced to a felony. But anything domestic violence-related should be moved to a felony.”

    The homicide investigation remains ongoing, and could potentially extend to other missing persons, Gibson said. Neither suspects in Montalvo's murder are said to be co-operating with the investigation.

    Gibson and several members of law enforcement joined Montalvo’s family and dozens of mourners at St. Cloud’s Lakefront Park for a candlelight vigil Monday night not only to remember the treasured life of Nicole but to illuminate the deep and dark plight victims of domestic violence walk through day after day.

    “We need our prosecutors to take this case seriously,” Gibson told Fox News. “We will be a voice for the voiceless. We will have justice for Nicole.”

    https://www.foxnews.com/us/florida-s...tic-abuse-laws
    "I realize this may sound harsh, but as a father and former lawman, I really don't care if it's by lethal injection, by the electric chair, firing squad, hanging, the guillotine or being fed to the lions."
    - Oklahoma Rep. Mike Christian

    "There are some people who just do not deserve to live,"
    - Rev. Richard Hawke

    “There are lots of extremely smug and self-satisfied people in what would be deemed lower down in society, who also deserve to be pulled up. In a proper free society, you should be allowed to make jokes about absolutely anything.”
    - Rowan Atkinson

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    Mother-in-law of slain Osceola County mother now facing charges

    By WESH News

    OSCEOLA COUNTY, Fla. — The mother-in-law of a slain Osceola County mother is now facing charges in connection with her slaying.

    Nicole Montalvo’s estranged husband, Christopher Otero-Rivera, as well as his father, Angel Luis Rivera have been charged with first-degree murder.

    Sheriff Russ Gibson said Friday that Wanda Rivera has been arrested for tampering with evidence and providing false statements to detectives when she was questioned.

    Gibson said he believes there are other people out there with information on the case that have not come forward.

    Montalvo was reported missing when she didn't pick up her son from school last month.

    Her remains were found at Oteoro-Rivera's home on Hixon Avenue near St. Cloud.

    https://www.wesh.com/article/mother-...talvo/29667642
    "I realize this may sound harsh, but as a father and former lawman, I really don't care if it's by lethal injection, by the electric chair, firing squad, hanging, the guillotine or being fed to the lions."
    - Oklahoma Rep. Mike Christian

    "There are some people who just do not deserve to live,"
    - Rev. Richard Hawke

    “There are lots of extremely smug and self-satisfied people in what would be deemed lower down in society, who also deserve to be pulled up. In a proper free society, you should be allowed to make jokes about absolutely anything.”
    - Rowan Atkinson

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    Deputies: Person of interest in St. Could woman's murder charged with child pornography

    By James Tutten and Ken Tyndall
    WFTV News


    OSCEOLA COUNTY, Fla. - A man considered a person of interest in the death of a mother in Saint Cloud has been charged with eight counts of possession of child pornography, according to the Osceola County Sheriff's Office.

    Deputies said Nicholas Rivera, 28, was arrested Friday in Newnan, Georgia and is currently being transported back to Osceola County.

    He is the brother of Christopher Otero-Rivera and the son of Angel Luis Rivera, both of whom have been charged in the death of Nicole Montalvo last month, deputies said.

    "I absolutely do believe that there's gonna be some other folks brought into this investigation," said Osceola County Sheriff Russ Gibson. "It's just a matter of time before they're identified."

    Detectives said Nicholas Rivera was arrested after information was obtained during the ongoing investigation into Montalvo's death.

    Gibson said Rivera was also living on the property at the time of the murder.

    The U.S. Marshals Service and the Coweta County Sheriff's Office in Georgia assisted Osceola County deputies with this arrest.

    Officials are still trying to determine Montalvo's cause of death.

    Anyone with any information on this case is asked to call the Osceola County Sheriff's Office at 407-348-2222.

    https://www.wftv.com/news/local/depu...phy/1005038222
    "I realize this may sound harsh, but as a father and former lawman, I really don't care if it's by lethal injection, by the electric chair, firing squad, hanging, the guillotine or being fed to the lions."
    - Oklahoma Rep. Mike Christian

    "There are some people who just do not deserve to live,"
    - Rev. Richard Hawke

    “There are lots of extremely smug and self-satisfied people in what would be deemed lower down in society, who also deserve to be pulled up. In a proper free society, you should be allowed to make jokes about absolutely anything.”
    - Rowan Atkinson

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    ‘Cut into pieces’: Documents reveal new details about Nicole Montalvo murder

    By MSN News

    Documents unsealed on Thursday laid out what evidence investigators have and revealed several new details about the murder of Nicole Montalvo.

    The warrants are for Montalvo's estranged husband, Christopher Otero-Rivera, and her father-in-law, Angel Rivera.

    One line in the warrant stands out. Investigators write, "Nicole was killed and her body was cut into pieces and then buried by Angel and Christopher."

    The warrant says that Montalvo's remains were found at the Riveras' home and appeared to have been cut with a cutting device.

    In the warrant detectives said Montalvo's cellphone records show she went to the Riveras' home on Oct. 21, but never left.

    Angel Rivera claimed she sent him a text saying she was leaving her son with them and would be gone "for a few days until I get things figured out."

    But investigators note that text would have been sent while Montalvo was at the Riveras' house.

    Any evidence of how Montalvo was killed is missing from the affidavit.

    Angel Rivera was in court Thursday demanding that he be released from jail because prosecutors still have not filed formal charges. The judge agreed, but charges related to the abuse of a corpse and concealment of a body were filed late Wednesday and are keeping Rivera jailed for now.

    A judge set bond at $350,000 for those charges.

    https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/crime...der/ar-BBXP1Au
    "I realize this may sound harsh, but as a father and former lawman, I really don't care if it's by lethal injection, by the electric chair, firing squad, hanging, the guillotine or being fed to the lions."
    - Oklahoma Rep. Mike Christian

    "There are some people who just do not deserve to live,"
    - Rev. Richard Hawke

    “There are lots of extremely smug and self-satisfied people in what would be deemed lower down in society, who also deserve to be pulled up. In a proper free society, you should be allowed to make jokes about absolutely anything.”
    - Rowan Atkinson

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    Administrator Heidi's Avatar
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    Governor takes Nicole Montalvo case away from Aramis Ayala

    Gov. Ron DeSantis said Friday that he will be assigning the Nicole Montalvo murder case to a different state prosecutor after a public dispute between Orange-Osceola State Attorney Aramis Ayala and Osceola County Sheriff Russ Gibson.

    Montalvo, a St. Cloud mother, was killed in October and her estranged husband, Christopher Otero-Rivera and her father-in-law, Angel Rivera, were arrested by Osceola County deputies in connection with the case. Despite the arrests, no murder charges have been filed and prosecutors are running out of time.

    DeSantis assigned the case to State Attorney Brad King.

    Florida’s speedy trial rule allows prosecutors to file charges up to 175 days after an arrest, meaning Otero-Rivera and Rivera would walk free if they have not been formally charged by mid-April.

    The dispute between Ayala and Gibson became public after the state attorney held a news conference during which she criticized how the sheriff’s office handled the case.

    After Ayala’s news conference, Florida Attorney General Ashely Moody sent a letter to the governor saying she believes there is enough evidence to file charges and that she is afraid the dispute could lead to a “miscarriage of justice.”

    In an exclusive interview Thursday with WESH 2 News, Ayala said she does not want to play politics with the governor, attorney general, or Gibson because they are all on the same team.

    Ayala maintained that she still does not believe there is enough evidence to charge the men with murder right now, going as far as to say there are still “killers out there.”

    The Montalvo case is not the first time Ayala has had a case reassigned.

    Ayala announced in March 2017 that her office would no longer seek the death penalty in any case, a decision that made national headlines.

    Then Gov. Rick Scott reassigned her death penalty-eligible cases to State Attorney Brad King. The governor's move was upheld by the state supreme court, which said Ayala was wrong to have a blanket policy of not seeking the death penalty.

    Following the court’s decision Ayala announced that she would begin seeking the death penalty in future cases if it was unanimously recommended by a panel of her assistant prosecutors.

    The most high-profile case transferred to King was the prosecution of Markeith Loyd.

    https://www.wesh.com/article/determi...tates/30727128
    An uninformed opponent is a dangerous opponent.

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  7. #7
    Wilso
    Guest
    Men found guilty of murdering Nicole Montalvo to be sentenced

    Christopher Otero-Rivera, Angel Rivera found guilty in April

    Brenda Argueta, Digital Journalist

    OSCEOLA COUNTY, Fla. – Two men who were found guilty in April of the 2019 murder of Nicole Montalvo will be sentenced Wednesday.

    Christopher Otero-Rivera and Angel Rivera will be sentenced in Osceola County starting at 11 a.m. The two men were found guilty of second-degree murder, abuse of a dead human body and tampering with physical evidence in the death of Nicole Montalvo, Otero-Rivera’s estranged wife.

    At the time the verdict was given in the trial, prosecutor Ryan Williams said both men are eligible for life in prison, which will likely be his recommendation.

    Nicole Montalvo, 33, was reported missing in October 2019 after she failed to pick up her 8-year-old son from school. Her dismembered remains were later found buried on property owned by the Riveras. Otero-Rivera and Nicole Montalvo had a son together, but they were separated at the time of her death. The two were going through a divorce when she dropped their son off at her father-in-law’s house.

    The prosecution said during closing arguments that the evidence proved the two men were guilty while the defense said that if Nicole Montalvo had been murdered on the Riveras’ property on Hixon Avenue in St. Cloud, more blood would have been found.

    The sentencing for both men is set to begin at 11 a.m.

    https://www.clickorlando.com/news/lo...-be-sentenced/

  8. #8
    Wilso
    Guest
    St. Cloud father and son sentenced to life in prison for the 2019 murder of Nicole Montalvo

    Christopher Otero-Rivera and his father Angel Rivera were sentenced to life in prison Wednesday in the October 2019 murder of their ex-wife and daughter-in-law, Nicole Montalvo.

    The pair were STOIC as sentence was handed down by Judge Keith Carsten.

    In April, they were found guilty of second-degree murder, abuse of a dead human body and tampering with evidence. A two-week trial in April concluded with just 90 minutes of jury deliberation.

    Prosecutors said Rivera, 66, and Otero-Rivera, 33, killed Montalvo because they wanted full custody of Montalvo and Otero-Rivera's 8-year-old son Montalvo shared with Otero-Rivera. The men then mutilated her body and buried it on their property in rural St. Cloud to hide the evidence. Days before, Montalvo was reported missing.

    Wanda Rivera, Angel's wife, was also arrested in the case as an accomplice to the murder, but the charges were dropped in March because prosecutors didn’t believe there was enough evidence to convict her. She testified that she didn’t know anything and didn’t see any bloody clothes or other evidence suggesting a grisly murder had taken place at her home.

    Court documents showed that when Montalvo was killed, she was in the process of divorcing Otero-Rivera, who had been court-ordered to stay away from her. In Oct. 2018, a year before Montalvo went missing, Otero-Rivera went to jail for a violent incident during which he forced his wife to drive to a remote location and then attacked her with the help of an accomplice.

    https://www.aroundosceola.com/news-n...icole-montalvo

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