GREENBURGH, N.Y. – A man wanted for murder in connection with the death of his ex-girlfriend last year in Philadelphia was apprehended by New York State Police on Saturday after a brief vehicular pursuit.
Geovanni Otero, 29, is accused of killing 29-year-old Melody Rivera, whose body was discovered in a shallow grave a week after she was reported missing. Rivera was last seen around Halloween 2024 in the 900 block of Sanger Street, on Philadelphia’s north side. Her partially decomposed remains were recovered the following week in a wooded park area near Verree Road.
Authorities quickly pointed to Otero as a suspect. Police sources indicated that Otero was under GPS monitoring due to a previous gun-related arrest. Investigators allege GPS data and other evidence revealed that Otero assaulted Rivera before disposing of her body in the park.
Following the initial investigation, a warrant was issued for Otero on charges of parole violation and subsequently for Rivera’s murder on November 27.
Otero had been evading capture until this weekend when New York troopers attempted to stop a vehicle reported as stolen from Virginia. The driver, identified as Otero, initially complied but then fled, sparking a chase that ended in a crash roughly a mile later.
Otero attempted to escape on foot but was quickly apprehended. Authorities confirmed his identity through fingerprint analysis. He is currently detained in New York and awaits extradition to Pennsylvania.
Rivera, remembered by her family as kind-hearted and full of life, left behind an 11-year-old daughter. Her family combed through her last known whereabouts in search of answers before her tragic discovery.
Martha Lee Fred, Rivera’s sister, expressed her determination to seek justice for Rivera. “Justice for my sister is my unwavering mission,” she stated, highlighting the family’s relentless drive to ensure a conviction in the case.