SEMINOLE COUNTY, Fla. – Two men are facing federal charges following the abduction and fatal shooting of a Homestead woman in Seminole County, authorities confirmed Tuesday.
Katherine Guerrero, also known as Katherine Altagracia Guerrero De Aguasvivas, moved to the United States from the Dominican Republic about five years ago.
The 31-year-old mother’s life as a US Citizen was short and detectives were trying to figure out why she was killed just four days before her 32nd birthday.
Guerrero, who didn’t have a criminal record in the US, drove a white 2017 Dodge Durango from deep south Miami-Dade County to Seminole County on April 11 and vanished before being found dead inside her burning SUV in Osceola County. She had been shot to death.
Jail records show Giovanni Crespo Hernandez, 27, turned himself into Seminole County deputies on Monday for narcotics-related offenses, following closely after his partner’s arrest on drug trafficking charges.
Authorities believe Crespo Hernandez was the last person who spoke with the victim over the phone, besides her spouse. Detectives assert that not only do cellphone records substantiate this claim, but the victim’s sibling corroborated it through a video call, capturing an individual identifying himself as “Gio.”
Seminole County Sheriff Dennis Lemma told reporters at a news conference Tuesday that Guerrero’s husband is no longer cooperating with investigators and her brother has been caught up in multiple lies with detectives.
Deputies attempted to interview Crespo Hernandez last Wednesday, but they say he departed from his residence with his girlfriend, providing federal agents the opportunity to raid his home.
In the course of the operation, federal agents confirmed they discovered fentanyl, Rolex watches, cash exceeding $10,000, two firearms and a concealed compartment in another vehicle parked outside.
Concurrently, during the raid, Hernandez’s girlfriend, who detectives identified as Monicsabel Soto, was also apprehended in Osceola County while attempting to procure three kilograms of cocaine, they say.
On Friday, the Seminole County Sheriff’s Office also announced the arrest of 28-year-old Jordanish Torres Garcia, who was apprehended on drug charges and implicated as a person of interest following Guerrero’s death.
Lemma confirmed Torres Garcia is now facing federal charges, including armed carjacking resulting in death.
Investigators say that a social media profile picture aligns Torres Garcia with the description of the suspect seen in the carjacking and abducting the victim.
Authorities confirmed the carjacking was captured on cellphone video, depicting the suspect, apparently clad in identical appearance as Torres Garcia in his profile picture, holding a gun at Guerrero, commandeering her SUV, and coercing her to drive off. Meanwhile, a green Acura, with another occupant, trailed behind.
“Everybody who has watched this knows that this has been about drugs and money,” Lemma said at Tuesday’s news conference.
Relatives of Guerrero told investigators that she was en route to Central Florida to visit family when she was forcibly taken.
They later informed authorities that she was delivering monetary items to someone. Her charred body was discovered a day later inside her burning vehicle at a construction site near Boggy Creek Road in Osceola County, laden with numerous 10 mm shell casings, according to detectives.
During Tuesday’s press conference, Lemma also announced the arrest of 28-year-old Kevin Ocasio Justiniano, also known as “Kevo,” who they say is suspected to have been present at the green Acura during the carjacking and is believed to have been the driver on the night of Guerrero’s murder.
Deputies confirmed Ocasio Justiniano is now in the process of being extradited to Seminole County to face charges there.
Authorities believe Crespo Hernandez was the target of a previous Homeland Security investigation in 2020 out of Miami, Florida which led to the seizure of over $330,000.
“Crespo is a known member of a Drug Trafficking Organization (DTO) in the Central Florida area and has a significant criminal history, detectives wrote in a criminal complaint.
He is also a person of interest in a series of home invasions and homicide investigations.
Despite multiple arrests involving persons of interest, no formal charges have been brought forth in Guerrero’s murder.
Anyone with information is urged to call the Seminole County Sheriff’s Office at 407-665-6650.
Watch the press conference here:
Read the complaint and see photos of the items that were confiscated during the raid here:
Read the complaint here:
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