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

KISSIMMEE, Fla. – After less than two hours of deliberation, a jury found Wednesday Angel Rivera and his son, Christopher Otera-Rivera, were guilty of murdering and breaking up Nicole Montalvo in 2019.

Christopher Otero-Rivera and his father, Angel Rivera, were both found guilty of second-degree murder, abuse of a dead human body, and tampering with physical evidence in the death of Montalvo, Otero-Rivera’s estranged wife.

The verdict was read at around 6:20 PM on Wednesday. The sentencing will take place at a later date. Prosecutor Ryan Williams said both men are eligible for life in prison, which will likely be his recommendation.

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33-year-old Montalvo was reported missing in October 2019 after not picking up her 8-year-old son from school. Her dismembered remains were later found buried on property of the Riveras. Otero-Rivera and Montalvo had a son together, but they were divorced at the time of her death.

The jury instructions were read by the judge late Wednesday morning before he issued a lunch break from 11:22 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., when the closing arguments began.

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

After closing arguments, the jury was fired at approximately 4:30 pm to begin deliberation.

The state reassured its case on Tuesday, as did the defense, which only summoned one witness.

Before the trial resumed Tuesday, the judge fired a juror he said slept multiple times during the proceedings. The judge said juror No. 16 had been fired from the case and was replaced by a deputy juror.

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A former Otero-Rivera prisonmate testified Tuesday, saying that Otero-Rivera wanted to kill Montalvo and said he used a car bomb. A second prison mate was also called to testify, saying that Otero-Rivera had spoken about getting out of prison and killing Montalvo.

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

After the state was reassured, Otero-Rivera and his father both said they would not take the stand.

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