LANCASTER, PA – On Thursday, Carlos Montalvo-Rivera, a 55-year-old Lancaster city resident, was found guilty of first-degree murder and several related charges in connection with the death of his wife and the arson of their family home in 2010. After a nearly three-week-long trial before Lancaster County Judge Dennis Reinaker, the jury deliberated for roughly an hour and 45 minutes before reaching their verdict.
Montalvo-Rivera was convicted on all charges, which included three counts of attempted homicide, one count of arson, and one count of risking catastrophe. He now faces life in prison without the possibility of parole and will be sentenced at a later date.
Assistant District Attorneys Christine Wilson and Jennifer Ponessa prosecuted the case, presenting evidence of inconsistencies in Montalvo-Rivera’s accounts of the events on the night of the fire. They argued that Montalvo-Rivera killed his wife and set the fire in an attempt to destroy evidence and cover up his crime. The defense claimed that intruders broke into the home, killed the victim, and set the fire as retaliation for the victim’s brother cooperating with the DEA in an unrelated case. However, the jury ultimately sided with the prosecution.
