GUILTY FL - Dr. Hector, 76, & Debra Rivera, 55, murdered in Avila mansion, 9 Jan 2012

[mysteriew]

The jewelry angle is interesting. Jewelry dealers usually pack and follow a strict security lifestyle. Numerous jewelry dealers have gone missing or have been murdered. Usually when they trust the wrong people. One case in Phoenix, the guy got mixed up with a stripper and it was a set up between her and her BF.

I wonder about the difficult crime scene. Could be these people were tortured for cash or jewelry assumed to have been in the house. Alot of low lifes wrongly assume that wealthy people keep stacks of cash at home in a safe.

They wouldn't have had much time. Since neighbors reported the gunshots and I am guessing that officers would quickly respond to this area.

The point about multiple gunshots is interesting though. If there were a lot of gun shots, that would mean a lot of casings or bullets, a "complicated" scene.

 

[gooniequeen]

so this article from People Magazine dated 2/2007 describes Debbie introducing her son "Hector" to his now wife. The article claims Debbie was "50" in 2002 - so that would make her 59-60 now (not 55). Which would also have made Debbie 22-23 when she gave birth to Hector.

http://www.people.com/people/archive/article/0,,20062711,00.html

In June 2002 Hector Rivera was getting ready for a two-month trip to Spain, when his cell phone rang. It was Debbie Rivera, Hector's mom, calling—not to say goodbye but to tell him about an amazing young woman, NAME REMOVED , whom Rivera had met through her work as an accessories wholesaler. "You really need to meet her," Rivera, 50, recalls telling her son.

So Dr. Rivera and his wife were together for over 30 years - thus not likely some spurned ex-wife. But I'm also curious about how Hector is described as an "only child" in this article, yet other reports claim the Dr. had 3 children from another marriage.

Rivera, struck by similarities in Hector's and NAME REMOVED upbringings—both were only children whose parents had been married more than 30 years—

I wonder how the other step siblings felt about Debbie lavishing such attention on her "only son"?

On another note Hector Jr. is a practicing attorney in the Tampa area specializing in the areas of personal injury defense and insurance coverage. Hector has experience handling a wide variety of civil litigation matters, with an emphasis in defense of premises liability and automobile accidents. Angry client? Seeking revenge on a case gone bad?

 

[gooniequeen]

Debbie designed and sold costume jewelry and handbags out of her home under the business name Distinctive Creations.

http://www.myfoxtampabay.com/dpp/ne...rities-search-for-answers-after-murder-011012

Debra Rivera ran a business out of their home called Distinctive Creations, selling women's clothing and jewelry.

so I'm not thinking it was in relation to her jewelry business. also she may have been attending a trade show as a buyer (beads, fabric etc) not necessarily exhibiting/selling.

 

[Reader]

Investigators scour security video, gate records for clues in Avila couple's killing

http://www.tampabay.com/news/public...te-records-for-clues-in-avila-couples/1209936

........."If they came through our gate, I'm pretty sure we'll find out who they were," said friend and neighbor Tony Muniz, chairman of the Tampa Sports Authority.

On Tuesday, deputies reviewed surveillance videos and the guard's log. They questioned neighbors as sheriff's divers scoured a lake for a weapon.

The couple's son, Hector Rivera Jr., and his wife said they were too distraught to talk Tuesday. They were also afraid. Police guarded the couple's South Tampa house at their request.
------

But Debra Rivera was home without her husband when she was killed, deputies say. She never called 911.

Dr. Rivera was shot in the front yard as he walked home from dinner at a neighbor's.

Several heard the gunfire.
------

Several neighbors expressed grief but said they weren't afraid. That's because deputies believe the couple was targeted — even though they don't know why.

"Most people believe that this is a very isolated event," said Muniz, who leads Avila's security committee.

Though someone had reported a burglary at the Rivera house earlier this month, deputies don't believe it's related.

The only items stolen in the burglary were several large storage bins with photocopiers and typewriters. The value: $256.



More at link...with info on their backgrounds

 

[SmoothOperator]

Great find goonie!! And some excellent points and questions that you've posed.. I find it strange about the obvious age discrepancies as well as the deliberate repeated mentioning of their ONLY child from both Hector and Debbie, but definitely NOT THE ONLY CHILD when in fact Hector has 3 other children, prior to "Hector Jr" being born, from "Hector Sr" previous marriage.. Hmmmmm.. Interesting..

 

[gooniequeen]

I didn't see this article linked yet - new details claim Mrs. Rivera was home alone and Dr. Rivera was shot as he walked up the driveway returning from dinner. Though they do not know which one was killed first

http://www.tampabay.com/news/public...te-records-for-clues-in-avila-couples/1209936

Deputies haven't said who was shot first, or if they believe more than one gunman was involved.
But Debra Rivera was home without her husband when she was killed, deputies say. She never called 911.
Dr. Rivera was shot in the front yard as he walked home from dinner at a neighbor's.

Also on a sad/scary note - their son Hector and his family are under police protection per their own request.

The couple's son, Hector Rivera Jr., and his wife said they were too distraught to talk Tuesday. They were also afraid. Police guarded the couple's South Tampa house at their request.

Finally not so sure how secure this place really is - the Rivera's reported a burglary a few months back - strange items stolen too....

Though someone had reported a burglary at the Rivera house earlier this month, deputies don't believe it's related.
The only items stolen in the burglary were several large storage bins with photocopiers and typewriters. The value: $256.

wow, tons of interesting background at the link -- read on

 

[SmoothOperator]

Omg!!! Wtf??? According to Reader's latest article it is stated that Debbie was murdered while at HOME, ALONE WHEN HER HUSBAND WAS NOT THERE?!?! .. And that she did not call 911..(probably because she didn't have the opportunity to call for help due to surprise attack by surprise intruder or surprise attack by someone she trusted and had obviously allowed into the home)..

But ok.. Now I'm really confused as to that meaning that they were killed at two seperate times.. Completely different times as she was killed while home alone, specifically stating that hubby was not home when she was killed???.. So no one heard the gunshots that killed the wife!?!

Because we now know hubby came home to wife already dead thus leaving one to believe that it was the gunshots at Hector Sr that prompted several neighbors to call and report the *multiple* gunshots immediately preceding 8pm..

What about the gunshot(s) that were heard for the wife?? And how much earlier do they suppose she was killed BEFORE HUBBY CAME HOME AND THEN HIMSELF WAS SHOT AND KILLED AS WELL??

 

[gooniequeen]

woops Reader beat me to the punch

 

[gooniequeen]

oy it just gets worse.......

Dr. Rivera's body was found on the lawn, while his wife's body was found in a bathroom. Detectives say her hands had been tied.

why tie her hands?

http://www.cfnews13.com/article/new...look-for-clues-in-Tampa-double-murder?cid=rss

 

[SmoothOperator]

Deputies haven't said who was shot first, or if they believe more than one gunman was involved.

But Debra Rivera was home without her husband when she was killed, deputies say. She never called 911.

Dr. Rivera was shot in the front yard as he walked home from dinner at a neighbor's.

LE says they won't say who was killed first yet in the very next sentence they say that Debbie was killed at home alone and Hector was killed as he was walking up to his home returning from eating dinner at a neighbors..

Wonder how long he was gone to neighbors that would atleast possibly give some type of timeline.. But IMO its entirely possibly that when Hector left home home to go eat at he neighbors that Deb had not yet made it home from her trade show(otherwise I assume she'd have joined him for dinner at the neighbors).. So I'm thinking that she came home either with someone, someone followed her, or maybe someone entered the home prior to her arriving but after Hector leaving to go to neighbors..

For some reason I'm still thinking there's something more to the crime scene INSIDE THE HOME that speaks volumes.. And that it was an intended kill on these particular victims to the point the son is in fear of his and his family's lives with full security now at their south Tampa home..

I have heard nothing whatsoever stating that there is any evidence of forced entry into the home and theyve outright stated nothing stolen.. If in fact there is no forced entry that is further leading towards someone Debbie trusted and would have opened the door to and allowed in her home..

 

[gooniequeen]

possible thought - Mrs. Rivera was the sole "target" and Dr. Rivera came home and was killed on his way up the driveway - perhaps because he came face to face with the killer and knew him/her.

why go to the trouble of tying her up and killing her and then just shoot him in the driveway? why not wait for him to enter the house and surprise him there?

 

[Lera213]

Where was CA at the time? Ok bad joke but my gut first reaction would be to suspect the security guard maybe one that was fired or use to work there. They would probably have keys, know where the camera's are and stuff.

 

[SeekingJana]

There IS a weak link in a private, gated, guarded community.
It has to do with the service workers who come in to do various things. Almost ALL of them already have the radio frequency stickers on their windshields. If not, they are phoned in by a specific resident but are free to go wherever they want to go while they are inside the gates.
In any given day, depending upon the size of the gated community, there can be hundreds of " outsiders" such as pool cleaning services, maids, guys who do routine yard work, or home remodeling, or pool remodeling, etc.
The weak link is that while the security force checks them IN to a specific residence, the same security people do NOT check to see that EVERY one of these people has left the private community. IOW, a person can hide, wait until the coast is clear, and do whatever they would do crime-wise in a non-gated community.

I don't know of any crimes where a person has been called in by a resident, then went elsewhere to harm someone, but it is entirely possible. I am very surprised that the wealthy are not preyed upon more in this way. It's SO easy for me to see how it could happen. And probably 2/3 of the residents in my gated private community are senior citizens. Probably true with the Rivera's as well.. not as observant.

In case you are wondering how or why someone would pick A certain victim or house, it could be that Debbie's jewelry business was the sole impetus. She was known for her work, and it attracted the criminal element. We shall see, but this is my very first thought as to what happened and why.

Maria

 

[katydid23]

possible thought - Mrs. Rivera was the sole "target" and Dr. Rivera came home and was killed on his way up the driveway - perhaps because he came face to face with the killer and knew him/her.

why go to the trouble of tying her up and killing her and then just shoot him in the driveway? why not wait for him to enter the house and surprise him there?

I agree. Maybe she was tied up initially while the intruder searched for $ or whatever they were after. Once they found it they killed her and were leaving when they met up with the husband out front.

I agree it would make no sense to kill him outside instead of in the home. Much more dangerous and easier to be seen and heard out front.

 

[gooniequeen]

i still think that if this was simply a robbery tie her up and take what you want - but to kill her? It's someone she knew....and nothing was stolen.

I'm stuck on 2 things.

1. WHY was a search warrant needed to get into a home of a double homicide? Perhaps Hector Jr. the attorney was involved in that -- and if so why? His parents reputation?

2. The robbery earlier this month (as in Janaury???) large stoarage bins were among the stolen items --- what was in those bins?

 

[SmoothOperator]

I agree with your thoughts, goonie!! And in logically thinking about what we now know it truly doesn't make sense that the husband was killed as he walked up.. That with them both being the target that the killer would have waited a mere 30+more seconds for Hector to enter into his home and go from there in the privacy of the home..

I am almost convinced at this point that possibly this was very much intended for Debbie as the victim that her gunshot(s) were muffled or silenced.. And that the reason the gunshots were heard for Hector is because he unfortunately returned at just the wrong time when the perp was making his get away.. Face to face coming from Hector's home, with Hector's wife dead inside, and most importantly the perp being known to Hector.. The perp had no choice but to tho completely unplanned.. He found he had to kill Hector and immediately flee.. Thus the shooting being unplanned and spur of the moment the gunshots weren't in any way muffled or silenced.. Therefor loudly and clearly heard by neighbors setting in motion immediate flurry of 911 calls with LE certainly quickly on their way..

At this point with what's known its most logical IMO that Debbie was the intended target with Hector being an unplanned casualty.. Sad..

 

[gooniequeen]

smooth - 100% agree.

 

[gooniequeen]

Major announcement being made at 10:30pm. arrest?

http://carrollwood.patch.com/articles/sheriff-to-make-major-announcement-in-avila-homicide-case

 

[gooniequeen]

it's a gated community with 2 access roads....what about the lakes that the house sat on?

map at link

http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&s...esult&ct=title&resnum=1&sqi=2&ved=0CCAQ8gEwAA

 

[mysteriew]

So from what I am understanding she came home from a trade show. He went to the neighbors alone for dinner. He gets shot as he walked onto his driveway. Neighbors call LE and when they get there they find her in the bathroom.

The impression I am getting is that the killer arrived after he left for dinner. Tied her up and at some point killed her. If the killer tied her up, it sounds like she was alive for a time? Maybe to give info about his wherebouts? Maybe the killer waited for him??? Then killed him in the driveway? Which makes it sound like maybe he was the main target?

Neighbors say they aren't afraid. That is strange, unless they know or guess something about the killer. Like maybe they know or guess who it is.And know why they were killed. Also would explain why the son was so afraid.

Pure speculation..... I am guessing that it probably has to do with the first family. The one who wasn't talked about.