Tragic Verdict in Brutal Florida Slaying
A Florida judge has upheld a capital punishment sentence for a man convicted of brutally killing his girlfriend and her young child in a 2024 home attack. The decision follows a jury’s recommendation in late 2025 and a formal sentencing hearing in early February 2026.
Angel Gabriel Cuz Choc, 33, was found guilty in October 2025 of two counts of first-degree murder for the deaths of 36-year-old Amalia Coc Choc De Pec and her 4-year-old daughter, Estrella. A Hillsborough County Circuit Court judge agreed with jurors that the case merited the harshest penalty under Florida law.
Violent Attack Caught on Evidence
Prosecutors detailed how the defendant became enraged after his girlfriend returned home later than expected and assaulted her with a shovel and a knife outside their Dover mobile home. After killing Amalia, he allegedly entered the residence and stabbed Estrella while she was in the bathtub.
During the trial, surveillance footage and weapons linked to the crime played a significant role in convincing jurors of Cuz Choc’s guilt. At sentencing, the judge described the violence against Estrella as “heinous, atrocious, and cruel,” noting that the little girl was still alive and conscious during part of the attack.
Defiance and Justice Statements
On the witness stand, Cuz Choc claimed not to remember the assaults. Law enforcement later located him hiding in wooded terrain near the scene the day after the murders, following a search by sheriff’s canine units.
State Attorney Suzy Lopez emphasized that while no punishment can undo the tragedy, the sentencing brings a sense of accountability for the victims and their surviving family members in Guatemala.
