A Florida judge has sentenced Angel Gabriel Cuz Choc to death for the fatal stabbing of his partner and her young daughter, closing a case that has moved through the courts for nearly two years.
Cuz Choc, 33, was convicted in October 2025 of two counts of first-degree murder in the deaths of Amalia Coc Choc De Pec, 36, and her 4-year-old daughter, Estrella. The killings occurred at the family’s mobile home in Dover in April 2024.
On Friday, Feb. 6, 2026, Hillsborough Circuit Judge Michelle Sisco accepted a jury’s recommendation for capital punishment. Court records and statements from prosecutors indicate the judge found multiple aggravating factors, including the nature of the violence used against the child.
According to prosecutors, the case centered on a domestic dispute that escalated after Amalia returned home later than expected. Authorities said she was attacked outside the residence with a shovel and a knife. Investigators alleged that after killing her, Cuz Choc went inside the home, where Estrella was bathing, and fatally wounded the child.
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During sentencing, the judge described the violence inflicted on Estrella as especially severe and concluded that evidence showed the child was conscious during the attack. The court also cited the number and location of her injuries in explaining the sentence.
Investigators reported finding multiple weapons connected to the killings and surveillance video that showed Cuz Choc pursuing Amalia on the property. Law enforcement said he was arrested the following day after a K-9 unit located him hiding in a wooded area less than two miles from the scene.
At trial, prosecutors said Cuz Choc testified but claimed he could not remember carrying out the attacks. The defense did not prevent the jury from unanimously finding him guilty.
State Attorney Suzy Lopez said the sentence was not a moment of celebration, emphasizing that it could not undo the loss suffered by the victims’ family, including relatives living in Guatemala.
