DOVER, Fla. — A man has been sentenced to death after being found guilty of murdering his girlfriend and her young daughter in a shocking case that has left a tight-knit community reeling. Angel Gabriel Cuz-Choc, 33, was convicted of the brutal killings of 36-year-old Amalia Coc Choc de Pec and her 4-year-old daughter, Estrella Anastasia Pec Coc.
The violent events transpired on April 24 at a mobile home located on Sumner Road, surrounded by strawberry fields. Emergency responders arrived around 5:30 p.m. after receiving a report of a deceased woman. Upon entering the scene, deputies encountered harrowing evidence of a struggle. A bloody handprint believed to belong to Amalia marked the side of the trailer, hinting at her desperate attempts to flee. Inside, authorities discovered Amalia’s lifeless body, while Estrella was found in the bathtub, both victims succumbing to fatal stab wounds.
Cuz-Choc, an undocumented immigrant who entered the U.S. earlier in 2023, fled the site of the tragedy before law enforcement arrived. An intensive manhunt ensued, lasting 18 hours until police dogs located him hiding in dense brush nearby. Investigators determined that emotions ran high on the day of the murder, with Cuz-Choc’s anger allegedly provoked by Amalia’s late return home.
Authorities revealed that they were also investigating Cuz-Choc for two separate homicide cases in Guatemala. However, the nature of the murders in Florida prompted a rapid response from both law enforcement and the district attorney’s office, acknowledging the severity and brutality involved.
During the trial, heart-wrenching testimonies laid bare the grim circumstances surrounding the killings. Information presented in court indicated that Estrella had sustained numerous injuries, strongly suggesting she fought back against her attacker. Evidence of defensive wounds on her hands and neck made clear that she was aware of the escalating violence during the assault.
At the sentencing hearing, the judge underscored the extraordinary cruelty of the crimes while expressing sympathy for the victims and their families, many of whom reside in Guatemala. The impact of the murders has resonated deeply throughout the local agricultural community, known for its close familial ties and shielded from such acts of violence.
As the judge pronounced the death penalty, supporters of the victims hoped that this ruling would offer some semblance of justice. However, a pall of grief still hangs over the community, where friends, family, and neighbors continue to reflect on the tragic loss of a mother and daughter whose lives were taken in their own home. The case has been described by local authorities as one of the most disturbing incidents to have occurred in Hillsborough County in recent memory.