Cocaine, carjacking, murder: Probe into Florida woman's brazen kidnapping expands
The case of an "incredibly frightening" Florida carjacking that left one woman dead has revealed a web of twists, turns and connections, resulting in at least two arrests, according to investigators.
The saga began April 11 when Seminole County police received a call about a potential carjacking in the Winter Springs area, which was caught on camera by a witness. According to authorities, the video showed an armed man in a black hoodie and a mask pointing a weapon at the driver of a white Dodge Durango before getting to the back driver's side door.
Around 7:00 p.m. the same evening, an hour after the initial sighting, witnesses reported hearing gunshots. A vehicle was later discovered on fire in Osceola County with a burned body inside, believed to be that of 31-year-old Katherine Altagracia Guerrero De Aguasvivas.
Officials quickly began to suspect that Guerrero was targeted. Her husband reportedly received a phone call from Guerrero when she realized a green Acura was following her and ramming her bumper. Her husband allegedly told her not to stop driving and neither party made a call to police.
A Seminole County Sheriff’s Office representative declined to provide further comment on the investigation.
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Police arrest two, explore other suspects
Police announced the arrest of Jordanish Torres-Garcia, 28, by United States Marshals Services on an unrelated charge on April 19. Police then identified him as a person of interest in the carjacking and murder of Guerrero, as he had connections to the 2002 green Acura used in the crime and was seen wearing the same clothes as the carjacker in his Facebook profile picture.
Investigators also uncovered a connection between Guerrero and 27-year-old Giovany Joel Crespo Hernandez, who was believed to have had contact with the victim before her death. While executing a search warrant at Henandez's home, police say they uncovered "trafficking amounts of Fentanyl, money, and a firearm (not believed to be connected to the carjacking)."
They also said that Henandez's live-in girlfriend, 27-year-old Monicsabel Romero Soto, "accepted a controlled delivery by Homeland Security investigations containing three kilos of cocaine." She was arrested in Osceola County but Hernandez is still at large with an active warrant for fentanyl trafficking.
Carjacking murder linked to another area homicide
The connections did not end there, however. During the investigation, state and federal officials found that another murder may be linked to the death of Guerrero.
The day before Guerrero's death, Juan Luis Cintron-Garcia, a 39-year-old father, was killed in Orange County’s Taft area. He was a truck driver and had previously towed the green Acura later involved in Guerrero De Aguasvivas' murder.
Police said 10 mm shell casings, which are reportedly uncommon on the streets, were found at the scene of both crimes.
“There is clearly a connection here,” Seminole County Sheriff Dennis Lemma said in a press conference on Friday. He did not share further details about the connection at that time.
Orange County deputy arrested
An Orange County police deputy, Francisco Estrella, was also arrested in connection with the case after he was accused of abusing his status to obtain information about the investigation. Esrella's wife was allegedly a childhood friend of Guerrero's husband Miguel Aguasvivas.
Estrella was arrested on April 14 on multiple charges related to the improper interception and disclosure of confidential information.
“These are very serious criminal allegations. It is completely unacceptable for any law enforcement officer to misuse the power and authority of their job,” said Sheriff John Mina of the Orange County Sheriff's Office. “At the Orange County Sheriff’s Office, we hold our deputies to the highest ethical standards, and we will not tolerate anyone breaking the law within our ranks.”
Murder charges not yet filed
Prosecutors have yet to file murder charges in the cases. Lemma said in Friday's press conference that investigators are still putting all the “pieces of the puzzle” together.
Hernandez and Torres-Garcia continue to be persons of interest in the carjacking and death of Guerrero. Romero-Soto faces a cocaine trafficking charge in Osceola County.
Estrella faces charges of interception of wire, oral, or electronic communication; disclosure of wire, oral, or electronic communication; disclosure or use of confidential criminal justice information; unlawful use of a two-way communication device; accessing computer or electronic devices without authorization or exceeding authorization.
Anyone with information is urged to contact Crimeline at (800) 423-TIPS (8477) or text to **TIPS (8477), or call the Seminole County Sheriff's Office at (407) 665-6650.