Authorities believe they’ve discovered the remains of an Alabama mother and her two children more than a month after the family mysteriously disappeared.
Mobile County Sheriff Paul Burch announced that three bodies believed to be Aurelia Choc Cac, 40, and her children, Niurka Zuleta Choc, 17, and Anthony Garcia Choc, 2, were discovered March 11 buried in a lightly wooded area in Baldwin County, according to a press conference.
Although a positive identification is pending the results of the autopsies, officials said there is enough evidence to suggest the remains belong to the missing family.
In light of the discovery, Mobile County District Attorney Keith Blackwood said the charges against suspect Hector Gamaliel Argueta-Guerra—who was already in custody on kidnapping charges—will be upgraded to capital murder.
“This is a horrific and gruesome murder,” he said. “The state will seek the death penalty in this case, the charges will be signed today, and we will move through the Alabama justice system.”
What Happened to Aurelia Choc Cac and Her Children?
The family was last seen at their residence in Theodore, Alabama around 3 p.m. on Jan. 30, according to the FBI, and was reported missing the next day.
Authorities found what “appeared to be signs of a struggle inside the residence,” per the FBI, triggering immediate concern for their whereabouts.
A major crimes detective testified in a preliminary hearing on the initial kidnapping charges, per WALA, that blood was discovered inside the home belonging to Niurka. The blood was found on a couch, white shoes in the living room, a trash bag, bed and on the master bedroom floor.
Detectives linked a van—which Argueta-Guerra had allegedly borrowed from his boss—to the kidnapping through surveillance video from area businesses, the detective testified. Argueta-Guerra was also linked to the crime through cell phone records, the news outlet reported.
Authorities have said the 27-year-old—who pleaded not guilty to the kidnapping allegations— has an extensive criminal record.
No Known Motive For Choc Family Killings
At the press conference March 11, Burch said investigators have still not uncovered a motive for the killings, saying “What motive would there be for killing a 2-year-old?”
He also called Argueta-Guerra a “monster,” adding, “He’s an evil person that will face his judgement soon.”
Burch said investigators discovered the remains while conducting a routine search of a property ᴀssociated with Argueta-Guerra, but declined to provide any further details about what led them to the area.
Tara Zieman, a communications director for the Mobile County District Attorney’s Office, told Oxygen that as of March 13 authorities were still awaiting the results of an autopsy to determine the causes of death for the family members.
According to Zieman, Argueta-Guerra is slated to be arraigned March 13 on upgraded charges which include: three counts of capital murder-kidnapping; three counts of capital murder-burglary; capital murder of a child under 14; capital murder of two or more, three counts of abuse of a corpse and providing false ID.
