On November 7, 2024, around 3:30 p.m., detectives working a missing person’s case were led to the 900 block of Tustin Avenue in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Upon arrival, they found the body of a missing woman buried in a shallow grave. The woman was pronounced dead at the scene at 8:33 p.m. She was transported to the Medical Examiner’s Office.
The victim was identified as 29-year-old Melody Rivera.
Rivera’s mother, Maritza Garcia, says that the last time she spoke or saw her daughter was on Facetime on October 31. Twelve hours later, Garcia reported Rivera missing.
Investigators are now asking for the public’s help in finding 29-year-old Geovanni Otero, who they say is a person of interest in this case.
Otero was Rivera’s ex-boyfriend and the last person she was seen with.
Otero also has a warrant for his arrest in reference to a parole violation. He hav a GPS-tracking ankle monitor which sources say helped detectives narrow him down as the suspect.
Based on the GPS tracker and more developing evidence, sources say police believe Otero killed the woman near the area where she was last seen, brought her a few miles away to the scene in Fox Chase and buried her body.
This is an ongoing investigation.
Philadelphia Police Department
Anyone with information regarding the whereabouts of Otero is urged to contact Homicide Detectives at 215-686-3334.
Tips can be submitted anonymously by calling or texting our PPD’s tip line at 215-686-TIPS (8477). Please call 911 or your location authorities if you happen to see them.
