On December 6, 2010, at 5:38 AM, County dispatchers sent the Lancaster City Fire Department, EMS and the Lancaster City Police to a building fire at 14 N. Plum Street, a single family dwelling. Upon arrival, first responders found a working fire, and several residents of the home who had jumped or fallen while trying to escape the residence or were assisted from the roof by neighbors. An adult male and three children were transported to Lancaster General Hospital for treatment or evaluation. First responders were unable to account for the whereabouts of an adult female member of the household. 

Lancaster City Fire Department personnel located a deceased, adult female inside the residence in the second floor, front bedroom. The adult female victim suffered severe burns to her entire body. Lancaster City Police Detectives were notified of this finding and immediately responded to the scene and launched an investigation into the death and fire. City Police Detectives received assistance with the investigation from the Pennsylvania State Police Fire Marshal, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Lancaster County Detectives and the Lancaster County District Attorney’s Office. This was an intense investigation, led by Detective Sergeant Nathan Nickel of the Lancaster City Police, involving a great deal of resources that were brought to bear on what was determined to be an act of arson. The Pennsylvania State Police Fire Marshal determined that an accelerant was used and that the fire was incendiary in nature. This determination caused investigators to treat this incident as a homicide investigation and all of the City Police Detectives assisted with the investigation. 

Investigators determined that there were five people in the residence at the time of the fire. An adult male and three children (two female children and one male child) escaped the fire. The adult male and a 13 year-old boy were assessed at the scene by EMS and then were transported to Lancaster General Hospital. Both males were evaluated and released after it was determined that they sustained no injuries. One of the children, an eight year-old female, suffered a fractured arm when she fell from the roof while trying to escape the fire. She was admitted to Lancaster General Hospital for treatment. The second female child, a nine year-old, suffered severe burns on her arms and was admitted to the Crozer-Chester Burn Center for treatment. Both have since recovered from their injuries. Had it not been for the brave actions of a neighbor, the incident would have likely been even more tragic, as he helped save the lives of two of the children by assisting them to safety from the burning building. 

On December 7, 2010, the Lancaster County Coroner’s Office conducted an autopsy on the deceased female discovered inside 14 N. Plum Street and determined that her cause of death was asphyxia/ smoke inhalation/ thermal burns and the manner of death was homicide. The deceased female was also identified as Olga SANCHEZ-REYES, a 30 year-old resident of Lancaster City. Investigators learned that SANCHEZ-REYES had lived at 14 N. Plum Street with her husband and their three children for several years prior to the fire. 

During the course of the investigation, investigators spent several days processing the scene and collecting evidence. This included the use of a K-9 trained in the detection of accelerants, as well as consulting with experts in the field of fire investigations from the Pennsylvania State Police and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Forensic evidence was analyzed at the crime lab. 

Over nearly nine years, investigators have interviewed countless witnesses, family members and 

neighbors. This included multiple interviews with the adult male, who was identified as the husband of the deceased female victim. Investigators have reviewed hours of video from the Lancaster Community Safety Coalition. Investigators have also spent countless hours reviewing physical evidence, as well as photographs and video taken during the early stages of the investigation. Investigators also met with medical experts to discuss the incident and the accounts provided by the surviving victims. A reward for information through the Lancaster City/ County Crime Stoppers and an additional reward from members of the victim’s family were offered in hopes of generating tips to help solve the case. Every lead and tip received by investigators has been thoroughly investigated. 

Early in the investigation, all indications were that this fire was not caused by a random arsonist and that the victim was likely targeted. This became increasing clear as the investigation progressed. The victim’s husband, Carlos MONTALVO-RIVERA, was interviewed several times by the investigators during the course of the investigation. MONTALVO-RIVERA reported that on the night of the fire, he was asleep in bed and was awakened by sound of his wife arguing with an unknown male. He reported that he attempted to get out of bed and was struck in the back of the head and knocked unconscious. According to MONTALVO-RIVERA’s timeline of events, he would have been unconscious for at least 45 minutes before waking up to find the bedroom filled with smoke and his hands tied behind his back. He reported that he was unable to see his wife. He reported that he was able to untie his hands and then opened a rear, second floor window and was able to climb down the ground to safety. He reported that then attempted to re-enter the home through the front door after hearing the children yelling, but was unable. However, investigators discovered a number of inconsistencies in MONTALVO-RIVERA’s statements, including MONTALVO-RIVERA’s account of whether his hands were tied up when he jumped from the rear window. 

Some of the inconsistencies in MONTALVO-RIVERA’s statements were in direct conflict with other pieces of information known to investigators, to include information garnered from physical evidence, witness statements and the opinions of medical professionals. Despite MONTALVO-RIVERA’s claim that he had been struck in the head and rendered unconscious for at least 45 minutes, he had no visible head injury and displayed no symptoms associated with a significant blow to the head. He was evaluated and released from the hospital later that morning. Investigators also noted that in early photographs taken at the scene by a fire department photographer, the rear, second floor window that MONTALVO-RIVERA claimed to have opened and climbed down from was in the closed position while firefighters were attempting to extinguish the active fire. Upon examination by investigators, this window would not close on its own and the window being in the closed position would be inconsistent with someone climbing out of the window to escape to safety. One neighbor who was at the scene reported first seeing Carlos MONTALVO-RIVERA at the rear of his residence with his hands untied and then later saw MONTALVO-RIVERA with hands tied up at the front of the residence. 

Investigators also learned of on-going marital problems between the victim (Olga SANCHEZ) and MONTALVO-RIVERA and according to one witness, approximately one year prior to the fire, she was present when MONTALVO-RIVERA was arguing with the victim and threatened to kill her. After a lengthy and intensive investigation using all available resources, MONTALVO-RIVERA became the focus of the investigation and he was identified as the suspect in the case. 

As a result of this investigation, Detective Sergeant Nathan Nickel filed the following charges against 

Carlos MONTALVO-RIVERA before Magisterial District Judge Rodney Hartman: 

One count of Criminal Homicide (F-1) 

Three counts of Criminal Attempt to Commit Criminal Homicide (F-1) 

Three counts of Aggravated Assault (F-1) 

One count of Arson (F-1) 

One count of Causing or Risking a Catastrophe (F-3) 

Three counts of Recklessly Endangering Another Person (M-2) 

Three counts of Endangering the Welfare of Children (M-2) 

Detective Sergeant Nickel obtained an arrest warrant for MONTALVO-RIVERA last night and then he was arrested without incident at 5:29 AM this morning, outside his residence in the 500 block of Dauphin Street. He was transported to the Lancaster City Police station, where he is being held for processing and arraignment. He was will be arraigned on all charges later today. MONTALVO-RIVERA is now 52 years-old and has been residing in the 500 block of Dauphin Street in Lancaster City. This arrest is the culmination of the tireless and tenacious effort of Detective Sergeant Nickel, who never gave up on this case. All persons accused of a crime are considered innocent until proven guilty in court. 

Anyone with information related to this incident is urged to call Detective Sergeant Nathan Nickel with the Lancaster City Police at (717) 735-3358 or Lancaster City-County Crime Stoppers at 1-800-322-1913. You can also click the Submit a Tip button on our website, www.lancasterpolice.com, or Text a Tip to Crime Stoppers by texting LANCS plus your message to 847411. Tipsters may remain anonymous and do not have to give their names.