Angel Rivera, Christopher Otera-Rivera convicted of murder in the death of Nicole Montalvo

KISSIMMEE, Fla. – After a summit of less than two hours, a jury ruled on Wednesday Angel Rivera and his son, Christopher Otera-Rivera, guilty of the murder and disruption of Nicole Montalvo in 2019.

Christopher Otero-Rivera and his father, Angel Rivera, were both convicted of second-degree murder, assault of a dead human body and physical evidence through the death of Montalvo, the estranged wife of Otero-Rivera.

The verdict was read on Wednesday around 18:20. Sentencing will take place later. Prosecutor Ryan Williams said both men are eligible for life in prison, which is likely to be his recommendation.

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Montalvo, 33, was reported missing in October 2019 after failing to pick up her 8-year-old son from school. Her crumbling remains were later found buried on property owned by the Riveras. Otero-Rivera and Montalvo had a son together, but they were divorced at the time of her death.

Jury instructions were read by the judge late Wednesday morning before issuing a lunch recess from 11:22 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., when the closing arguments began.

The prosecutor said during closing arguments that the evidence proved that the two men were guilty, while the defense said that if there was Montalvo on the Riveras’ property in Hixon Avenue in St. Louis. Cloud would be killed, more blood would be found.

After arguments, the jury was dismissed around 4:30 p.m. to begin deliberations.

The state reassured his case Tuesday, as did the defense, which called only one witness at the scene.

Before the trial resumed on Tuesday, the judge dismissed a jury member who he said had slept on several occasions during the proceedings. The judge said that jury member no. 16 dismissed from the case and replaced by an alternate juror.

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A former Otero-Rivera jailer testified Tuesday that Otero-Rivera wanted to kill Montalvo and mentioned that he was using a car bomb. A second jailer was also called to testify and said Otero-Rivera spoke about the outcome of the jail and the murder of Montalvo.

Jurors also heard from a neighbor who said he lives across from the Rivera property. The neighbor said Angel Rivera offered him $ 10,000 to kill Montalvo.

After the state came to rest, Otero-Rivera and his father both said they would not take a stand.

The defense called only one witness, Wanda Rivera, Angel’s wife and Christopher’s mother.