FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Erin Maloney, Communications Director
Office of the State Attorney, 13th Judicial Circuit
(813) 557-3366 | [email protected]
TAMPA, FL (May 15, 2024) — The State Attorney’s Office announced it will seek the death penalty in the case of Angel Gabriel Cuz Choc. The defendant brutally murdered his girlfriend Amalia Coc Choc De Pec and her 4-year-old daughter at their home in Dover. Cuz Choc entered the country illegally from Guatemala where the U.S. Border Patrol says he was also wanted for two separate murders. In Hillsborough County, he is charged with two counts of first-degree murder, kidnapping, and aggravated child abuse. The defendant is currently being held in jail until trial as a result of our agency successfully arguing that he represents a danger to our community.
On April 25, Cuz Choc attacked his girlfriend with a shovel and a knife, repeatedly striking and stabbing her. He told investigators he was angry when she didn’t return home on time from a trip out with a friend. Coc Choc De Pec’s body was found in a makeshift shed outside the couple’s trailer. Her 4-year-old daughter was found stabbed to death in the bathtub. Deputies arrested Cuz Choc the following day after they found him hiding in the woods two miles away from the crime scene.
Cuz Choc gave a sworn statement to investigators where he admitted entering the country illegally through a smuggler in September of 2023. The defendant claims he met Coc Choc De Pec on Facebook while she and her daughter lived in New Jersey. In the months before the murders, the defendant also claimed the victim and her 4-year-old daughter moved down to live with Cuz Choc in Dover where he found work as a day laborer.
“I can’t imagine the terror both victims went through as they were brutally attacked by this defendant. A mother and her 4-year-old daughter were savagely stabbed to death. This crime was especially heinous, cruel, and atrocious. As a result of the violent nature of the defendant’s actions and the suffering of the victims, we are seeking the death penalty for both murders. This tragedy is made even worse by the fact that the defendant was in our community illegally,” said State Attorney Suzy Lopez.
The State Attorney’s Office filed a motion for pretrial detention which was not challenged by the Public Defender’s Office. Cuz Choc will remain behind bars without bond until trial. He is set to be arraigned on May 20.
If you or anyone you know is a victim of domestic violence, our community is fortunate to have incredible resources for survivors and their children. The Spring of Tampa Bay has a 24-hour Crisis Hotline that victims can call: (813)-247-SAFE (7233). Victims can also learn about the Spring’s services and resources by visiting www.TheSpring.org.
State Attorney Lopez leads a team of talented prosecutors and professional staff who are responsible for all criminal prosecutions in the 13th Judicial Circuit. The State Attorney’s Office is committed to keeping the public informed about the outcomes of major court cases to ensure transparency and accountability. We believe it is of utmost importance for the public to understand how our justice system operates in order to build trust. To learn more about the outcome of cases prosecuted in our office, you can follow us on social media: