Miami

Co-Worker Arrested After Missing Woman Discovered Burned in Field

Miami-Dade Police arrested 30-year-old Marvin Rivera-Montalvo in the death of 51-year-old Yolanda Samaniego who was found burned and decapitated on Wednesday morning.

Investigators say Rivera-Montalvo contacted police claiming he has information on the death and stated that Samaniego's husband killed her.

On Saturday morning, police continued to interview Rivera-Montalvo where he confessed that he planned on killing Samaniego with other individuals who have not been identified.

According to police, Rivera-Montalvo was a co-worker and stated that he lured Samaniego to his vehicle and another individual shot her. He then allegedly drove to a nearby hotel where he pepared to dispose her body and eventually left Samaniego in an open field and burned her body.

Miami-Dade Fire Rescue discovered the body near the intersection of NW 64th Street and NW 82nd Avenue. Initially, Fire-Rescue thought the scene was a small brush fire, but as the flames were extinguished, the scorched body of a decapitated woman was discovered.

At the time, a concerned family rushed to the crime scene looking for answers. The family of Samaniego said the woman had been missing since last Saturday.

“We heard they found a body in this area and my aunt has been missing,” said Mirta Celaya.

Samaniego’s family believes the woman left work around 2:30 a.m. and was dropped off at a nearby gas station by a co-worker. The family said she was waiting for a ride home and that’s the last they heard from her.

“No one came to pick her up, or, well, I don’t know what happened to her,” Celaya said.

The pastor of a church nearby said police looked at their surveillance cameras, but didn’t find any clues. Locals said there isn’t much activity in the area after dark and that they were stunned that such a gruesome act would take place so close to their place of worship.

“I am completely shocked, wouldn’t expect something like that to happen. I really feel for her family and for her son,” said Alfredo Usecha.

Rivera-Montalvo was charged with first-degree murder. It is not known at this time if he has attorney.

Samaniego left behind a 17-year-old son.

If you have any information on the death, call Miami-Dade Crime Stoppers at 305-471-TIPS (8477).

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