Although they were still working on a positive identification, deputies think they found the kidnapped woman dead in a burning car. It was an hour and 45 minutes from when a masked suspect forced his way into a white Dodge Durango driven by Katherine Altagracia Guerrero De Aguasvivas, 31, in Seminole County, Florida, and when authorities in southern Osceola County received a call for service. with gunshots and a burning car.
Seminole County Sheriff Dennis Lemma say in a press conference on Friday, which according to the limited time, investigators think it was a direct route from the scene of the kidnapping to the scene of the fire.
But he cited an ongoing investigation that left many questions unanswered. Even authorities aren’t quite sure why Aguasvivas, a resident of the Miami-Dade County town of Homestead, was in their neck of the woods.
Katherine Aguasvivas was kidnapped in Seminole County Thursday, and is now believed to be the victim of a murder. @SeminoleSO. @SeminoleSheriff gave advice to the public on how to handle a potential car theft situation. @Habari Zangu13 @BN9 pic.twitter.com/hsna2zS766
– Spectrum News Asher Wildman (@AsherWildman13) April 12, 2024
Authorities wrote Thursday that a witness recorded the suspect getting out of a green Acura and kidnapping Aguasvivas, who was driving a white Dodge Durango.
“Just before 6:00 p.m. today (April 11, 2024), a witness recorded a possible carjacking in progress at the intersection of East Lake Drive and Tuskawilla Road in the Winter Springs area of ​​unincorporated Seminole County,” they said. he wrote. “In the video, the armed suspect, believed to be a white or Hispanic male, wearing a black hat, what appears to be a Halloween mask, and dark clothing can be seen pointing a gun at the driver of a white Dodge Durango, (Florida License Plate KVFF22) and then into the rear driver’s side door.”
Lemma characterized the mask as a ski or ninja-style mask.
Authorities described the second suspect as male and as white or Hispanic driving the Acura. The car’s license number was hidden, they said.
According to the sheriff, the suspect Acura had started to attack the Durango about half a mile from the location of the kidnapping.
Lemma said that the two people who filmed this “dangerous and scary situation” in the back of the Acura are “absolute heroes.”
According to the sheriff, it appears that Aguasvivas continued to drive under the orders of the armed suspect. At some point, the vehicle reached Osceola County and pulled into a construction site near Boggy Creek Road, where the body and vehicle were discovered.
Lemma said that investigators learned from Aguasvivas’ husband that he was in Seminole County to visit family, but the husband did not name names, and investigators did not find any biological relatives in the area. Authorities did not know why he was there, or how long he planned to stay there, he said.
Investigators do not know about Aguasvivas or her husband calling law enforcement. Instead, Aguasvivas called his partner, who told him not to stop the car, Lemma said.
“I don’t know the answer to that,” the sheriff said, discussing why no one called 911.
Journalists at the press conference seemed to not believe the husband’s story. Lemma described the man as “helpful” and said they were continuing to talk to him.
Regarding the masked suspect’s weapon, Lemma said it appeared to be a 10mm gun. At the scene of a burned-out car in Osceola County, authorities found 12 10mm shell casings and one projectile, he said.
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