Florida man, father guilty of killing son’s estranged wife

KISSIMMEE, Fla. (AP) - A Florida man and his father have been convicted of killing and dismembering the son’s estranged wife.

An Osceola County jury deliberated for 90 minutes Wednesday before finding Christopher Otero-Rivera, and his father, Angel Luis Rivera, guilty of second-degree murder, abuse of a body and evidence tampering, the Orlando Sentinel reported. They face possible life sentences.

Prosecutors argued that both men wanted Nicole Montalvo, 33, to disappear so they could get custody of the couple’s shared son.

Montalvo was found dead in October 2019 on property owned by Rivera, prosecutors said. The St. Cloud woman had gone missing several days earlier after dropping off her 8-year-old son at the Riveras’ home.

Montalvo never left the property, investigators said. She was dismembered and buried on the family’s property using a rented excavator, deputies said. GPS data from Otero-Rivera’s ankle monitor showed him moving around the area where Montalvo’s remains were discovered.

A year before Montalvo went missing, Otero-Rivera was accused of abducting and beating his wife, court records show. Otero-Rivera pleaded to lesser offenses and was sentenced to a short jail term and probation.

Montalvo never left the property, investigators said. She was dismembered and buried on the family’s property using a rented excavator, deputies said. GPS data from Otero-Rivera’s ankle monitor showed him moving around the area where Montalvo’s remains were discovered.