Man Accused of ‘Heinous’ Stabbing Murders of Fla. Mom and Her 4-Year-Old Daughter Learns Fate

A man accused of beating a woman with a shovel before fatally stabbing her and her 4-year-old daughter has been sentenced to death.

In October 2025, a Florida jury recommended the death penalty for Angel Gabriel Cuz Choc, 33, after he was found guilty of two counts of first-degree murder in the deaths of Amalia Coc Choc De Pec, 36, and her daughter, Estrella.

Hillsborough Circuit Judge Michelle Sisco agreed with the jury’s recommendation and handed down the sentence on Friday, Feb. 6, 2026, the Office of the State Attorney, 13th Judicial Circuit confirmed with PEOPLE.

Prosecutors said Cuz Choc attacked and killed Amalia with a shovel and knife after he “became enraged when Amalia came home later than expected,” per a press release.

“The defendant chases [Amalia] outside, grabs her, and drags her to the back of the trailer,” Sisco said during sentencing, per WFLA. “The defendant brutally murders [Amalia] outside of the home and then goes into the residence to murder [Estrella] while she was in the bathtub.

Sisco, who became emotional during the sentencing, described the attack on Estrella as “heinous, atrocious, and cruel,” according to the outlet.

“[Estrella] sustained at least six significant injuries to her body, two to her neck and four to her right hand,” Sisco said. “The court finds that the evidence introduced to trial established that [Estrella] was alive and conscious when she received the knife wounds.”

Amalia, who was the girlfriend of Cuz Choc at the time, and her daughter were killed at their Dover mobile home on April 24, 2024.

According to prosecutors, investigators found multiple weapons linked to the murders as well as surveillance video of Cuz Choc chasing Amalia on the property, the press release states.

Prosecutors said Cuz Choc testified during the trial and claimed he didn’t remember the attacks, per the release.

The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office said K9 deputies found Cuz Choc hiding in a wooded area less than two miles from the crime scene the day after the murders.

“This is not a sentence anyone celebrates,” said State Attorney Suzy Lopez. “This was one of the most horrific crimes we’ve ever seen in Hillsborough County. The case has now come full circle. Nothing can bring Amalia and Estrella back, but we do believe we’ve gotten justice for them and their surviving family members in Guatemala.”