On Thursday morning, Angel Gabriel Cuz-Choc, 31, faced charges for the deaths of his girlfriend, Amalia Coc Choc de Pec, 36, and her 4-year-old daughter,
Estrella Anastasia Pec Coc, after authorities found them beaten and stabbed to death in their Florida mobile home at Sumner Road in Dover, near Tampa. The tragic incident unfolded on Wednesday, prompting the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office to respond to a report received around 5:30 p.m. regarding a deceased female. The scene revealed signs of a struggle, with a bloody handprint outside the home indicating a desperate attempt to flee.
Following the discovery, a manhunt ensued, culminating in Cuz-Choc’s capture 18 hours later. Sheriff Chad Chronister commended the law enforcement team for quickly locating the suspect, barricading a significant area to prevent his escape. Cuz-Choc, romantically involved with the victim, was arrested near the scene, where the police discovered him hidden in thick vegetation. Sheriff Chronister expressed the severity of the situation, labeling the crimes as “heinous and vile.”
Sheriff Chronister also highlighted that Cuz-Choc had recently entered the country unlawfully and had no familial ties to the young victim, whose father resides in Guatemala.
Little information was available on Cuz-Choc’s background as authorities delved into the preliminary stages of the investigation. Though the suspect attempted to contact acquaintances, all refused to aid him, ensuring his eventual capture. Cuz-Choc openly confessed to both murders during interviews with detectives following his apprehension.