FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Erin Maloney, Communications Director
Office of the State Attorney, 13th Judicial Circuit
(813) 557-3366 | [email protected]
TAMPA, FL (October 8, 2025) — A jury has found Angel Gabriel Cuz Choc guilty of first-degree murder in the brutal stabbing deaths of his girlfriend, Amalia Coc Choc De Pec and her 4-year-old daughter. The crimes occurred in April 2024 at their home in Dover. Investigators learned that Cuz Choc was allegedly wanted for two separate murders in his home country of Guatemala before entering the United States illegally in September 2023. The same jury will now decide if he will be sentenced to death or if he will spend the rest of his life in prison.
Throughout the weeklong trial, jurors heard from detectives, crime scene analysts, and forensic experts who detailed the overwhelming evidence linking Cuz Choc to the killings. Investigators recovered multiple weapons tied to the crimes and presented chilling surveillance video showing the defendant chasing his girlfriend just hours before she was found stabbed and beaten to death. Her daughter’s body was later discovered in a bathtub inside the home.
Taking the stand in his own defense, Cuz Choc claimed he did not remember killing either victim. Prosecutors argued he became enraged when Amalia came home later than expected and attacked her in a fit of rage. After the murders, he fled into nearby woods, where law enforcement officers captured him the next day.
“My heart breaks for this mother and her little girl, whose lives were taken in acts of pure evil. He brutally murdered the woman he considered to be his wife, and the little girl he treated as a daughter. We will not rest until the victims’ family gets the justice they deserve,” said State Attorney Suzy Lopez.
Death Penalty Specialist Scott Harmon and Assistant State Attorney Lindsey Hodges successfully prosecuted this case. The Hillsborough County Public Defender’s Office represented the defendant.
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.