'There is a lot to be reviewed’: State Rep. Mike La Rosa weighs in on slain St. Cloud mother case

Video: 'There is a lot to be reviewed’: Rep. Mike La Rosa weighs in on slain St. Cloud mother case “Just looking at the history of the case, I think there is a lot to be reviewed to make sure something like this could be prevented, if it could be by law,” La Rosa told Channel 9.

OSCEOLA COUNTY, Fla. — State Rep. Mike La Rosa is weighing in on the case of the slain St. Cloud mother, saying the number of violent encounters between the victim and her estranged husband before her murder are troublesome.

The Osceola County Sheriff’s Office has accused Nicole Montalvo’s estranged husband Christopher Otero-Rivera and her father-in-law, Angel Rivera, of murdering her in October. Neither have been formally charged, but court documents show Montalvo and Otero-Rivera had a violent history involving domestic abuse.

“Just looking at the history of the case, I think there is a lot to be reviewed to make sure something like this could be prevented, if it could be by law,” La Rosa told Channel 9.

La Rosa, who represents St. Cloud, said he wants to draw up legislative action to put a stop to continued domestic abuse.

“We see bigger problems, unfortunately, that arise from domestic violence issues,” La Rosa told Channel 9.

Rivera left jail with his face covered earlier this month after posting bail. Otero-Rivera is still being held on on charges of probation violation.

The case has sparked impassioned reactions in Central Florida. Montalvo’s friends have said they are also petitioning for more serious consequences for domestic violence.

Watch: Friends of slain St. Cloud mother petition for more serious domestic violence consequences

Orange-Osceola State Attorney Aramis Ayala publicly condemned Sheriff’s Russ Gibson’s actions in the case, saying he ignored her office’s advice and made arrests before investigators knew who killed Montalvo. She accused Gibson of creating “a public spectacle.”

La Rosa said he facilitated a meeting between Gibson and Ayala after Ayala’s office did not file formal murder charges, but said he was not in the room when the two meet. La Rosa declined to comment on the politics of the case.

Read: ‘The truth hurts’: State Attorney says sheriff ignored advice in case of slain Osceola County mom

The attorney general has written a letter asking the governor for permission to take over the investigation, but the governor has not responded.

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