DOVER, Fla. — A man has been arrested after allegedly beating and stabbing his partner and her 4-year-old daughter to death in a mobile home in Dover, Florida. The suspect, 31-year-old Angel Gabriel Cuz-Choc, is facing two counts of first-degree murder with a weapon in the deaths of 36-year-old Amalia Coc Choc de Pec and her daughter Estrella Anastasia Pec Coc.
The tragic incident occurred on Wednesday evening at a mobile home on Sumner Road. Deputies from the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office responded to a call reporting a deceased female. Upon arrival, authorities discovered a bloody handprint on the side of the mobile home, indicating a struggle had taken place. The woman was found dead in the backyard, while the young girl was discovered dead inside.
Cuz-Choc fled the scene, triggering an 18-hour manhunt that ended when a police dog located him in nearby vegetation. Sheriff Chad Chronister expressed his satisfaction with the swift capture of the suspect and vowed that he would face the full weight of the criminal justice system for his actions.
According to authorities, Cuz-Choc had a romantic relationship with the woman but had no connection to her daughter, whose father resides in Guatemala. It was revealed that the suspect had recently entered the country unlawfully, and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security is assisting with the investigation. Officials are working to determine whether the woman and her daughter also entered the U.S. unlawfully.
The tragic incident happened around 3:40 p.m., but law enforcement was not notified until 5:30 p.m. when a roommate returned to the mobile home. The sheriff’s office had established a perimeter and launched an extensive search for the suspect. Residents were urged to remain indoors and report any suspicious activity.
After his arrest, Cuz-Choc confessed to both murders during interviews with detectives, according to the sheriff’s office.
The investigation is ongoing, with authorities aiming to gather more details about the suspect’s background and the circumstances surrounding the victims’ illegal entry into the country.