SEMINOLE COUNTY, Fla. — Federal officials announced Monday they have taken over the investigation in to the carjacking and death of 31-year-old Katherine Altagracia Guerrero De Aguasvivas on April 11.
The main suspect in the case, 28-year-old Jordanish Torres-Garcia, has also been charged federally with carjacking resulting in death, a crime that could potentially result in the death penalty, said Roger Handberg, U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Florida.
Two other men investigators believed to be connected to Guerrero De Aguasvivas's death — Giovany Joel Crespo Hernandez, 27, and Kevin "Kevo" Ocasio Justiniano, 28 — are facing federal drug charges, but have not been charged in connection with the carjacking, Handberg said, noting that the investigation into the incident is ongoing and further charges may be filed at a later date.
According to investigators, several witnesses gave similar descriptions of Guerrero De Aguasvivas' abduction at gunpoint just after 5:30 p.m. on April 11 at the intersection of East Lake Drive and Tuskawilla Road in Winter Springs. Her body was found shot and inside a burning vehicle the next day in a remote area of Osceola County.
During an April 23 press conference, Seminole County Sheriff Dennis Lemma said it is believed that Torres-Garcia was the armed, masked man seen in video approaching the window of Guerrero De Aguasvivas' white Dodge Durango, before getting in.
At that point, the white Durango and a 2002 green Acura Torres-Garcia is believed to have been driving, made a U-turn and left the scene, witnesses told investigators.
On Monday, Handberg said he believes that Guerrero De Aguasvivas' abduction "was not a random act — it was a targeted act."
Federal investigators, though, have not yet determined a motive in the case, he said.
While it appears that the carjacking and Guerrero De Aguasvivas' death appear to be drug related, Handberg said that it doesn't matter what she may have been involved in, because it won't affect her place in the investigation.
"The victim is the victim, and will always be the victim," he said.
According to information from the Seminole County Sheriff's Office, Torres-Garcia was identified as a suspect when he was connected to the green Acura that is believed to be involved in Guerrero De Aguasvivas' death and the death of 39-year-old Juan Luis Cintron Garcia, who was killed on April 10.
Garcia has been identified as a tow truck driver who towed the Acura from an Orange County apartment complex on March 19.
"We do consider that to be related to (the carjacking)," Handberg said Monday.
When asked about Guerrero De Aguasvivas' husband and brother — who Lemma had previously said were "no longer cooperating" with the investigation — Handberg said investigators would be following up on "each and every lead."