Geovanni Otero, a man wanted for the murder of his ex-girlfriend in Philadelphia, was arrested in New York on February 15, 2025, following a dramatic high-speed chase and crash.
Otero, 29, had been on the run for three months after allegedly killing 29-year-old Melody Rivera and burying her body in a shallow grave in Northeast Philadelphia’s Fox Chase neighborhood.
His arrest in Westchester County, New York, comes after a series of tense events that began with a routine traffic stop.
It all started when New York State Troopers Charko and Pelaez attempted to pull over a car that had been reported stolen from Virginia.
Otero, who was driving the vehicle, initially complied with the officers’ orders but then sped off, triggering a brief pursuit.
The chase lasted around one minute, covering roughly a mile, before Otero crashed the stolen vehicle.
He attempted to flee on foot but was quickly apprehended by troopers not far from the crash site.
Upon his arrest, Otero presented false identification and was found in possession of multiple fraudulent IDs.
A fingerprint analysis later confirmed that he was indeed Geovanni Otero, the man wanted by Philadelphia police and the U.S. Marshals for Rivera’s murder.
Otero was taken to a nearby hospital for minor injuries he sustained during the crash before being taken into custody.
He is now facing multiple charges, including criminal possession of stolen property, obstructing governmental administration, false impersonation, unlawful fleeing, and reckless driving.
He is also awaiting extradition to Philadelphia, where he will face charges related to Rivera’s death.
The U.S. Marshals, who had joined the manhunt, previously offered a $5,000 reward for information leading to Otero’s capture, adding to the $20,000 reward offered by Philadelphia authorities.
The tragic story of Melody Rivera’s death began on November 7, 2024, when her body was discovered buried in a shallow grave near Champion Park Playground on the 900 block of Tustin Avenue.
Rivera, a devoted mother, had been reported missing just days before. Otero was the last person seen with her, and evidence later pointed to him as the primary suspect in her murder.
He had also violated his parole before Rivera’s death.
Rivera’s family, still reeling from her loss, described her as a kind, funny, and loving mother who left behind an 11-year-old daughter.
Authorities discovered that Otero had been on parole for a previous gun-related case and had been wearing a GPS-tracking ankle monitor, which helped police narrow down their search for him.
After Rivera’s body was discovered, police issued a warrant for Otero’s arrest, and the U.S. Marshals quickly joined the search.
Otero managed to evade capture for several months when he remained a fugitive in multiple states.
His capture in New York represents a significant breakthrough in the case, bringing some sense of justice to Rivera’s grieving family.
As Otero faces arraignment on multiple charges, the investigation continues.
Philadelphia authorities and the U.S. Marshals are working together to ensure he faces the full extent of the law for his alleged crimes.
