Angel Gabriel Cuz Choc, a man from Guatemala, was sentenced to death for a brutal double murder of his girlfriend and her young daughter. A lot of people have talked about this sad event in Florida and other places. The 33-year-old killed Amalia Coc Choc De Pec, 36, and her 4-year-old daughter, Estrella Anastasia Pec Coc, in their small mobile home in the strawberry fields of Dover, Florida. In September 2023, the person came into the country without permission. On April 24, 2024, Choc's anger boiled over, and this small rural village, known for its farming and close-knit migrant families, became a place of terrible tragedy.
What started out as a fight at home turned into something much worse. Court papers and testimony from witnesses at the trial say that Cuz Choc got angry when Amalia didn't come home as she had promised. He chased her outside their trailer, grabbed her roughly, and dragged her to the back, where he hurt her badly, as the prosecution's scary photo shows. He hit her with a shovel over and over again in a fit of rage, then switched to a knife and stabbed her over and over again until she passed out on the ground. But the nightmare didn't end there. Little Estrella was bathing in the tub when Cuz Choc stormed back into the house. Experts say he used his knife on the girl, giving her at least six serious injuries, two to her neck and four to her right hand. The girl was scared and tried to protect herself while she was still alive and conscious, as shown by her defensive injuries.
Hearing the gruesome evidence presented in court made it difficult for even seasoned professionals to remain composed. Hillsborough Circuit Judge Michelle Sisco fought back tears as she talked about the crimes at the sentencing hearing on February 6, 2026. She called the attack on Estrella "heinous, atrocious, and cruel," and she talked about how much pain the defenseless girl went through in her last moments. Sisco's voice is said to have broken when she said, "The defendant brutally murders Amalia outside the home and then goes inside to kill Estrella while she is in the bathtub." People in the courtroom clearly cared a lot about the cost; this was clearly not just another case for her.
because the investigators soon turned its attention to Choc. The security cameras on the property showed him chasing Amalia, which backed up the timeline. At the scene, police found a bloody knife and shovel, among other weapons that were linked to the crimes. The day after the murders, K9 deputies from the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office found him hiding in a wooded area less than two miles away. His defense during the trial was based on his claim that he couldn't remember the attacks. However, the jury judged him guilty because they did not believe him. He was caught without any problems.
The case took almost two years to settle because the charges were so serious. While the murders were still being talked about, Cuz Choc was also charged with two counts of first-degree murder, severe child abuse, and kidnapping. The State Attorney's Office said in May 2024 that they would seek the death penalty because the victim was a child and the murders were so horrible. The jury selection process for the trial began in late September 2025. On October 8, a jury in Tampa found the defendant guilty of both murder charges. The same group voted 10 to 2 the next day to recommend death after hearing both sides of the argument. This level is possible because Florida's laws don't require everyone to agree on the death penalty.
After going over all the evidence and what the jury said, Judge Sisco agreed completely. She found Cuz Choc guilty on both counts and sentenced him to die on that fateful Friday in early February 2026. He would then join the roughly 250 other prisoners on Florida's death row who are waiting to die. In capital cases, appeals are almost always expected. This can make the case take years or even decades to resolve. Since the death penalty was brought back in 1976, Florida has put to death more than 100 people. However, there are several legal issues and a lengthy journey to the death chamber.
This sadness is worse because of Choc's past. According to U.S. Border Patrol records, he was wanted for two murders in Guatemala that were not connected to his illegal entry into the United States. This information led to talks about immigration and border security, but prosecutors stressed that the victims and the justice served should be the main focus. Family members of Amalia and Estrella, who were from Guatemala, were told how the trial was going, but they were very sad that they couldn't go. They worked in the fields that keep Florida's strawberry crop going, but their lives were cut short. They probably thought of this place as a new beginning.
After the sentencing, State Attorney Suzy Lopez, whose office led the prosecution with Death Penalty Specialist Scott Harmon and Assistant State Attorney Lindsay Hodges at the front, made a serious statement. She said, "No one is happy with this sentence." This was one of the worst crimes that Hillsborough County has ever seen. This brings the case full circle. We think we have gotten justice for Amalia, Estrella, and their family members, but nothing can bring them back to Guatemala. She spoke for many people in the town who were very upset about the double murder.
These kinds of events bring out the darker sides of domestic abuse, especially in rural areas where getting help may be hard. Many farmworkers live in Dover, a small village east of Tampa. These kinds of things show how important it is to have better support networks. Advocacy groups say that immigrant women have a hard time reporting abuse because they are afraid of being deported or facing other consequences. Choc's fate is set for now, but the victims' families and the community will need a lot more time to heal.
This story is a sad reminder of how quickly anger can turn deadly and kill someone. There will be further debates regarding whether death sentences actually bring about justice or only exacerbate the misery of those already affected when Florida establishes its death penalty system. Amalia and Estrella find comfort in the fact that the courthouse is closed, even though they live in a world that doesn't protect them.
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Rachel Harper
Rachel Harper is an investigative crime reporter specializing in criminal justice, law enforcement, and public safety issues. With a law degree and journalism experience, she provides detailed coverage of major cases, trials, and criminal justice reform.
