Authorities believe they've found the body of a Homestead woman who had gone missing after her carjacking at gunpoint in central Florida was caught on camera, and are searching for the suspects involved in her killing.
Katherine Altagracia Guerrero De Aguasvivas was abducted Thursday after a witness recorded an armed suspect pointing a weapon at her at an intersection in Winter Springs, Seminole County Sheriff's Office officials said.
The 31-year-old woman had left Homestead earlier in the day and drove north in a white Dodge Durango until she reached Seminole County.
As she was driving, a green Acura rammed into her back bumper. She called her husband and told him someone was following her and had rammed her, Seminole Sheriff Dennis Lemma told reporters at a news conference Friday.
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The husband told her to not stop, but neither of them called 911, Lemma said.
Video taken by someone in another car and released by the sheriff's office showed an armed suspect in a black hoodie, wearing what appears to be a Halloween mask or ski mask and dark clothing approaching the Durango from the Acura at the intersection.
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The suspect pointed a gun at the driver and got into the Durango through the back driver's side door. Authorities believe the gunman forced Guerrero De Aguasvivas to continue driving while holding her at gunpoint.
"It is incredibly frightening to watch the boldness of this suspect, this perpetrator, getting out of a car, wearing a hood, carrying a weapon in broad daylight, getting in the vehicle," Lemma said.
Officials said the Durango continued to drive into Osceola County to a new construction area.
"I suspect that where they told her to go, is somewhere where they've been before, they seemed very familiar with that area down there. I don't think this is randomly, 'hey pull off the road,'" Lemma said.
Less than two hours after the carjacking, authorities received a call of a vehicle on fire in the construction area and authorities arrived and found the burning vehicle, believed to be the Durango, with a body inside.
Authorities believe the body inside is Guerrero De Aguasvivas, though they're awaiting official confirmation from DNA or dental records.
Investigators also found a dozen shell casings at the scene, Lemma said. The casings are from 10mm rounds, consistent with the gun used in the carjacking, Lemma said.
Authorities are trying to determine a motive for the killing but Lemma said it appears the occupants of the Acura knew who they were targeting.
"There's a lot of unknowns, a lot of things that will leave people scratching your head and I think the biggest is why, because this isn't just a random incident," Lemma said. "Why did she and her husband not call 911? I don't know."
Lemma said Guerrero De Aguasvivas and her husband are associated with two South Florida businesses, a barbershop and a beauty salon.
"There is no criminal history here for either Katherine or her husband in the United States. There is no clear indicator why somebody would do this, why would they target them," Lemma said.
Authorities said Guerrero De Aguasvivas' husband was providing them with information. Lemma said they don't know why she was in Central Florida but said the husband told investigators she was visiting family.
"The intial report that was provided to us was Katherine was traveling to Central Florida to visit with family members. We know of no family members that are living in Central Florida," Lemma said.
Friends at the beauty salon in Florida City were shocked to hear about the incident on Friday. At Guerrero De Aguasvivas' home, neighbors were also stunned to learn the news.
“She was a good girl and her husband and family,” neighbor Miguel Rivera said.
Investigators are trying to find the Acura or its occupants. According to SCSO, the armed suspect is believed to be a white or Hispanic man.
The second suspect, who is also believed to be a white or Hispanic man, was allegedly driving the green Acura.
"Clearly they should be viewed as being armed and dangerous, don't confront them yourself, contact authorities," Lemma said.
Officials said if anyone spots the Acura, they should not approach it, but instead call 911 or contact the Seminole County Sheriff's Office.
