Husband, father-in-law, are persons of interest in disappearance of Florida woman, deputies say

Deputies in Osceola County Florida, said Friday evening that the estranged husband of a missing St. Cloud woman and his father have been named persons of interest in her disappearance.

Deputies said Nicole Montalvo's estranged husband, Christopher Ortero-Rivera, and his father, Angel Lewis Rivera, have been arrested on charges unrelated to Montalvo's disappearance.

Maj. Jacob Ruiz, of the Osceola County Sheriff's Office said Ortero-Rivera was arrested on suspicion of violation of probation and his father, Rivera, was arrested on suspicion of violating his conditions as a registered felon. They are both being transported to the Osceola County Jail.

Osceola County Sheriff Russ Gibson said Friday afternoon that possible human remains have been found on a 5-acre property where Montalvo was last seen.

The remains were discovered along Hixon Avenue near Deer Run and Canoe Creek roads, not far from St. Cloud, Gibson said.

Investigators said they are unsure if the remains are those of a man or a woman.

They said the medical examiner's office will conduct an autopsy on the possible remains.

Deputies said Montalvo was last seen at about 5 p.m. Monday dropping off her son at Hixon Avenue. She was reported missing Thursday.

Investigators said Montalvo was supposed to pick up her son from Harmony School on Tuesday but she never did so.

Investigators had searched the property -- including a construction shed, recreational vehicle and trailers -- for Montalvo or evidence relating to her disappearance.

"There's a wooded area and a pond in that property, and so we are going to comb the entire property," Ruiz said.

"It's not like her to drop off her son and not pick him back up," she said. "He's her world, so that's all she did -- be with him, spend time with him."

Records said Montalvo called deputies last year to report that her estranged husband and another person took her to a secluded area, where he slapped her across the face several times because he didn't like her texting a friend and taking his son.

The documents said he threw her to the ground and attempted to break her neck, saying she would be killed if she called 911.

Earlier this month, Montalvo sent a handwritten letter to a judge asking that a protection order she had against her husband be dropped because it would be best for her son.

Montalvo was last seen wearing a gray shirt and blue jeans.

Investigators said her phone has been off for several days.