ST. CLOUD, Fla. – The estranged husband of a missing woman last seen in St. Cloud is now in custody on unrelated charges, according to the Osceola County Sheriff's Office.
The arrest of Christopher Otera Rivera comes hours after possible human remains were found Friday during a search for the missing mother at a home near St. Cloud, Osceola County Sheriff Russ Gibson said.
It's not known, however, if the remains are those of Nicole Montalvo, the 33-year-old St. Cloud mother who was reported missing after failing to pick up her 8-year-old son from school earlier this week.
"We uncovered what looks like the possible remains of a human being," said Gibson, who added that it's not been determined if the body is that of a male or female.
Rivera was arrested on violation of probation charges, deputies said. His father was also arrested after deputies said they found something "suspicious." Deputies have named both men persons of interest in the case.
At sunrise, more than a dozen investigators with the Osceola County Sheriff's Office arrived at the Hixon Avenue home of Montalvo's estranged husband and his parents.
Gibson said the discovery was made in the rear of the property. Detectives were focusing on an area behind a garage and near a tree line on the 5-acre property.
Investigators brought in generator-powered lights overnight Thursday to help in their search for Montalvo, who was last seen Monday afternoon when she dropped off her son at the home.
"This is totally unlike her," said Maj. Jacob Ruiz, of the Osceola County Sheriff's Office.
Ruiz said Montalvo's cellphone has been turned off and her car was found abandoned 8 miles away on Big Sky Boulevard.
"She disappeared out of the blue here on Monday night. (There's) no trace of any communication with anybody," Ruiz said. "She didn’t go to (Harmony School) the next day to pick up her son. That’s completely out of character for her."
Osceola sheriff's investigators Thursday took their mobile command center to the home and used lights to illuminate the rear of a detached shed, where deputies were seen earlier in the day with shovels.
Ruiz said deputies plan to search the entire property, which includes trailers, ponds and a large wooded area.
Montalvo's father, Ed Montalvo, posted a message Thursday night on Facebook, saying, "I would at this time like to thank everyone for their support and prayers. We still are of the mindset that she will be found safe. Again thank you!!"
No one has been named a suspect in the case.
Anyone with information about Montalvo is asked to contact the Osceola County Sheriff's Office at 407-348-1100.
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