Seminole County detectives believe that the deadly armed carjacking in Winter Springs that claimed the life of 31-year-old Katherine Altagracia Guerrero De Aguasvivas is connected to a fatal shooting that occurred the day before in Orange County.
On Monday, the Seminole County Sheriff’s Office held a press conference to provide an update on the investigation into the armed carjacking and kidnapping that occurred on Thursday, April 11. Shortly before 6 p.m., a witness recorded the incident at the intersection of E Lake Drive and Tuskawilla Road in the Winter Springs area.
In the video from the witness, an armed male suspect was observed pointing a weapon at a woman, identified as Aguasvivas, who was driving a white Dodge Durango. The suspect is believed to be a white or Hispanic male, and he was wearing a black hoodie, a mask, and dark clothing.
A second suspect, also believed to be a white or Hispanic male, was traveling in a green 2002 Acura sedan with an obscured license plate. The second suspect drove immediately behind the victim’s Durango after the first suspect entered the vehicle, according to SCSO.
According to SCSO, the green Acura was seen “repeatedly ramming” the back of the victim’s vehicle shortly before the carjacking occurred. While the victim contacted her husband, the sheriff’s office stated that they both did not call 911.
Seminole County Sheriff Dennis Lemma stated that the victim’s phone “looked like it was immediately turned off after that.”
At around 7 p.m. on April 11, witnesses in Osceola County reported hearing gunshots. SCSO stated that the victim’s SUV was later discovered, and it had been set on fire.
Inside the SUV, law enforcement discovered Aguasvivas’ body, which was “badly burned.” She had also sustained gunshot wounds, according to the sheriff’s office.
Sheriff Lemma mentioned in the press conference that the victim’s husband has been cooperative. The victim’s husband told investigators that his wife was in the area to visit family members.
During Monday’s press conference, Sheriff Lemma provided an update regarding the green Acura involved in the carjacking. The sheriff stated that the vehicle had been abandoned at an apartment complex in Orange County, and it was located by the sheriff’s office on Saturday, April 13.
Detectives are currently processing the Acura for evidence.
According to Sheriff Lemma, the Acura was reportedly at the scene of a fatal shooting that occurred in Orlando’s Taft neighborhood on Wednesday, April 10, just one day before the carjacking incident.
The sheriff stated that the victim in the Orlando shooting, identified as 39-year-old Juan Luis Cintron Garcia, was a tow truck driver who had towed the green Acura from an Orange County apartment complex on March 19.
According to SCSO, 10mm rounds were used in the fatal shooting of Garcia, which matched the rounds that were recovered from the scene of Aguasvivas’ burned SUV.
On Monday, Sheriff Lemma also provided an update regarding another development in this case: the recent arrest of an Orange County Sheriff’s Office deputy identified as 33-year-old Francisco Estrella.
Sheriff Lemma stated that Estrella’s wife and the husband of Aguasvivas were “childhood friends.”
While the victim’s husband was traveling to Seminole County to speak with investigators on Friday, April 12, he reached out to Estrella’s wife.
The deputy, Estrella, then allegedly proceeded to contact an SCSO investigator who was involved in the carjacking investigation. During that conversation, Estrella claimed to be an OCSO detective and provided a false alias while attempting to gather information from the investigator regarding the carjacking and kidnapping case, according to Sheriff Lemma.
In addition, Estrella is accused of illegally accessing a police system that contained information such as home addresses, photographs, and signatures of the primary SCSO detective working the case. He also allegedly recorded all communication between himself and the detective, and this communication was then forwarded to Aguasvivas’ husband while he was en route to Seminole County to speak with law enforcement.
When Aguasvivas’ husband arrived in Seminole County, he provided his phone to investigators. During a forensic examination of the phone, law enforcement learned about his communication with Estrella and the OCSO deputy’s wife, according to Sheriff Lemma.
Estrella was arrested by the Seminole County Sheriff’s Office on Sunday, April 14. He is being charged with interception of wire, oral or electronic communication; disclosure of wire, oral or electronic communication; disclosure or use of confidential criminal justice information; unlawful use of a two-way communication device; and accessing computer or electronic devices without authorization or exceeding authorization.
According to the Orange County Sheriff’s Office, Estrella was hired in September of 2022. He has been relieved of all law enforcement duties without pay while the criminal case is underway. Once the criminal proceedings have concluded, the sheriff’s office will conduct an administrative investigation, and the results of that investigation will be made public.
“These are very serious criminal allegations. It is completely unacceptable for any law enforcement officer to misuse the power and authority of their job,” stated Orange County Sheriff John Mina.
“At the Orange County Sheriff’s Office, we hold our deputies to the highest ethical standards, and we will not tolerate anyone breaking the law within our ranks,” added Sheriff Mina.
Aguasvivas’ husband is currently not facing any charges, according to Seminole County Sheriff Lemma.
The Seminole County Sheriff’s Office and Orange County Sheriff’s Office are encouraging anyone with information regarding this investigation to come forward. If you have any information that could help investigators, please contact SCSO (407-665-6650) or OCSO (407-836-4357).
Anyone wishing to remain anonymous can contact the Central Florida Crimeline by calling 1-800-423-TIPS(8477) or clicking here to submit an online tip. If you use Crimeline and your tip leads to an arrest, you may be eligible for a cash reward.