Authorities in Alabama have uncovered a tragic and brutal crime after discovering the bodies of a missing mother and her two children, all murdered with a sharp-edged weapon and buried in the woods.
The discovery has led to additional charges being filed against Hector Gamaliel Argueta-Guerra, 31, who was already in custody for kidnapping.
The Discovery of the Bodies
The Choc family, consisting of Aurelia Choc Cac (40), her daughter Niurka Zuleta Choc (17), and her 2-year-old son Anthony Garcia Choc, were last seen on January 30, 2026, at their home in Theodore, Alabama.
The family was reported missing the following day when law enforcement found signs of a struggle at their residence, including significant amounts of blood.
After an intense investigation, authorities discovered the victims’ bodies on Wednesday at a property linked to Hector Argueta-Guerra. The bodies were wrapped in plastic and bedding and buried in a wooded area in Baldwin County.
The victims had been killed with a sharp-edged weapon, with the 2-year-old boy suffering “sharp force trauma” to the head, and his mother being stabbed in the chest and back.
Arrest and Charges
Argueta-Guerra, who has been in the Mobile County Jail since February 2026 on kidnapping charges, now faces three counts of first-degree murder in connection with the deaths of the Choc family. The prosecution has announced plans to seek the death penalty in the case.
Mobile County Sheriff Paul Burch stated during a press conference that investigators are still trying to understand the motive behind the killings, expressing disbelief at the murder of a 2-year-old child. “What motive would there be for killing a 2-year-old?” Burch questioned.
A Violent Background
According to authorities, Argueta-Guerra is allegedly a member of the Sureños gang, a California-based organization associated with the Mexican Mafia. Officials also revealed that Argueta-Guerra was slated for deportation in 2021, but for reasons that remain unclear, he was released and not deported.
The authorities are still working to positively identify the bodies, but they believe the remains are those of the Choc family based on personal jewelry they were wearing.
Community and Law Enforcement Response
Sheriff Burch expressed strong condemnation of the defendant’s actions, saying, “He’s an evil person who will face his judgment soon.”
The Mobile County Sheriff’s Office also took to Facebook, posting, “Hector, you are a sick person to do what you did to this family and we know if convicted, you will never see the outside world again.”
The horrific murders of the Choc family have shaken the community, and authorities are committed to ensuring that justice is served.
Hector Gamaliel Argueta-Guerra now faces multiple charges and the potential for the death penalty, with the investigation continuing to uncover details surrounding the crime and the possible motives behind it.
