DOVER, FL – Authorities have announced the arrest of the man purportedly behind the “brutal” murder of his girlfriend and her 4-year-old daughter in Dover. Hillsborough County Sheriff Chad Chronister said Angel Gabriel Cuz-Choc, aged 31, ran into the woods after stabbing the victims- a full three hours prior to when the sheriff’s office received the news of the homicides.
Sheriff Chronister, speaking at a press conference on Thursday, stated that the law enforcement teams managed to overcome the suspect’s “head start” thanks to their relentless pursuit. This involved making use of undercover detectives, K-9 units, and various technologies to track Cuz-Choc and eventually apprehend him. Some acquaintances of the accused were contacted by him during his period of evasion, seeking their help; however, they refused to assist him.
Cuz-Choc was spotted near an abandoned farmhouse and barn, attempting to vacate the area, when an undercover detective observing him was noticed, triggering Cuz-Choc to flee into an area of dense vegetation. According to Sheriff Chronister, although the suspect managed to evade the deputies’ sight, he fell short of eluding the scent-tracking capability of the K-9 task force deployed, which led the police right to him.
Despite momentarily managing to escape the K-9’s grip by slipping out of his jacket, Cuz-Choc was apprehended soon after by oncoming deputies.
At the scene of the crime on Sumner Road, responding officers found the 36-year-old female victim dead in a pool of her own blood in the backyard. Additionally, the body of her 4-year-old daughter was found inside the home, turning an already macabre crime scene into a truly horrific one.
Sheriff Chronister explained that the victims had relocated from Guatemala around seven months ago, as per information gathered from conversations with neighbors. It is unclear as to what charges Cuz-Choc will be facing, but it seems certain that they will reflect the severity of the crimes committed.