‘The truth hurts’: State Attorney says sheriff ignored advice in case of slain Osceola County mom

OSCEOLA COUNTY, Fla. — Shortly after the father-in-law of slain Osceola County woman Nicole Montalvo was sent back to jail for violating terms of his release for crimes related to her death, State Attorney Aramis Ayala spoke outside the courthouse to voice her frustration with the ongoing investigation.

“Enough is enough,” Ayala said.

Ayala said Osceola Count Sheriff Russ Gibson ignored her office’s advice and made arrests in the case before investigators knew who killed Montalvo.

“Sometimes,” she said, “the truth hurts.”

Watch: Father-in-law of slain St. Cloud woman leaves jail with head covered

Montalvo’s father-in-law, Angel Rivera, is facing charges for abuse of a corpse, failure to report a death and possession of ammunition by a felon. Rivera was released on bond on Monday but was back in court Friday where a judge ordered him back to jail after he violated terms of his release by returning to his home.

After the judge voiced his opinion, the courtroom erupted in applause.

Rivera’s son, Montalvo’s estranged husband, Christopher Otero-Rivera, is in jail being held on charges of probation violation. He is also charged with failure to report a death.

Gibson has previously referred to Rivera and Otero-Rivera as suspects in Montalvo’s death, but has not filed any murder charges against them.

Deputies say Montalvo’s body was found buried on property owned by the Rivera family.

Ayala said the sheriff went against her office’s recommendations by arresting Rivera and his son on charges related to Montalvo’s death. Those arrests, she said, put time constraints on the case. Ayala said investigators now have only six months from those arrests to bring Montalvo’s killer to justice.

“My office cannot manufacture results,” Ayala said.

She said the sheriff’s office needs help and asked anyone with any information on the case to speak out.

“I refuse to be a part of a public spectacle that has been created by the sheriff. On several occasions, he has offered facts that are simply not true,” Ayala said.

Montalvo’s brother, Steven Montalvo, said at the news conference that anyone who knows anything about the case needs to relay the information to investigators.

“We want justice for Nicole,” he said. “...If you have anything at all, think about the 8-year-old boy who no longer has a mother.”

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