Estranged Husband and Father-in-Law of Nicole Montalvo Found Guilty of Second-Degree Murder

Christopher Otero-Rivera and Angel Luis Rivera were found guilty of second-degree murder for killing and dismembering Nicole Montalvo. Both men face up to life in prison.

Nicole Montalvo’s estranged husband, Christopher Otero-Rivera, and father-in-law, Angel Luis Rivera, were arrested after Osceola County Sheriff’s Office detectives found parts of Montalvo's body on property owned by the Rivera family. Montalvo disappeared October 21, 2019 after dropping her son off at the Rivera family’s home. When found, Montalvo’s corpse was burned, cut into pieces and buried.

Otero-Rivera and Rivera were found guilty on all charges after less than two hours of deliberation by the jury. They are convicted of second-degree murder, tampering with evidence and abuse of a human body. The State Attorney’s Office will seek a life sentence for both men.

"There were people 18 months ago who said this case couldn’t even be charged, so the fact that they’ve been convicted of anything is a win," said Assistant State Attorney Ryan Williams. "Now they’ve both been convicted of second-degree murder."

The case was prosecuted by the Fifth Judicial Circuit State Attorney’s Office after Governor Ron DeSantis reassigned the case from former Orange-Osceola State Attorney Aramis Ayala last year. Assistant State Attorneys Ryan Williams and Jamie McManus prosecuted the case.