UPDATE 4: April 25, 2024
The Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office has arrested a violent criminal responsible for the brutal murder of two innocent victims.
On Thursday, April 25, 2024, less than 24 hours after the discovery of a deceased woman and child, HCSO detectives found Angel Gabriel Cuz-Choc hidden in a wooded area less than two miles from the scene of the crime.
"From the moment our deputies arrived at the gruesome scene, we poured every resource available into tracking down the suspect responsible for this heinous crime and bringing him to justice," said Sheriff Chad Chronister. "Cuz-Choc will face the full weight of the criminal justice system for his vicious, vile, and evil actions."
Detectives and several members of HCSO specialty teams worked all through the night to locate Cuz-Choc. Throughout the extensive search, K9 deputies tracked him to a wooded area between I-4 and Glen Harwell Road (exact location in map below), where he was concealed in a bush.
"Not only did he commit an unimaginable crime which cruelly claimed the lives of two innocent victims, he then made the cowardly and ultimately futile attempt to evade capture. His efforts were no match for our team of dedicated detectives who left no stone unturned in their search," said Sheriff Chad Chronister. "There wasn't a square inch within this perimeter that our deputies did not have covered."
The two victim's identified are:
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Amalia Coc Choc de Pec, 36
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Estrella Anastasia Pec Coc, 4
In interviews with detectives after he was arrested, Cuz-Choc confessed to both murders.
While additional charges may be forthcoming, at this time, Cuz-Choc is facing the following charges:
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Murder in the First Degree with a Weapon x2
Cuz-Choc's booking photo will be provided when available.
All further updates will come from the Public Affairs Office. Sheriff Chronister’s press conference from the scene is below as well as a map as to where Cuz-Choc was located.
