MIAMI – The father of a Florida woman believed to be dead after a brazen carjacking in broad daylight near Winter Springs remembered her fondly and added that she never had trouble with anyone.
Katherine Altagracia Guerrero De Aguasvivas, a 31-year-old U.S. citizen originally from the Dominican Republic, was carjacked Thursday at a traffic light at East Lake Drive and Tuskawilla Road in Seminole County, according to deputies. A masked gunman carrying a 10mm automatic handgun got out of a green Acura and entered her SUV, apparently forcing her to drive off.
The carjacking and kidnapping was captured on video by another driver who was in traffic.
A body believed to be Aguasvivas was found less than two hours later in a burned-out vehicle in Osceola County, Seminole County Sheriff Dennis Lemma said last week.
Speaking Spanish to News 6 partner WPLG-TV, Aguasvivas’ father described his daughter, the mother of a 6-year-old girl, as “studious” and “obedient” and said she “always worried about us.”
“It was a big hit to our family because she always took care of all of us,” he said. “She never had problems with anyone.”
The man said his daughter, who was married and lived in Homestead, was healthy, did not smoke and had lots of friends.
Aguasvivas’ father described how he found out about the tragic news.
“I found my wife crying and the neighbor communicated what had happened, and that is when we found out about the situation,” he said.
He reiterated that the news was a “hard blow for our family.”
The man said if someone knows something about what happened to his daughter, they should come forward.
“Cooperate so that there is clarity with everything because today it was my daughter and tomorrow it can be the daughter of another citizen,” he said. “God gave us life and in a moment can take it. We are trying to be strong to be able to go through this situation and ask people to pray and ask God so that there is clarity and for God to protect the children of other human beings that remain here on Earth.”
The carjacking case took a couple of twists on Monday when Lemma announced that a fatal shooting in Orange County and the arrest of an Orange County sheriff’s deputy were linked to the case.
Authorities continue to search for the armed carjacker and the person who drove away in a green Acura after the gunman entered Aguasvivas’ vehicle, a Dodge Durango.
Anyone with information about the case is urged to contact the Orange County Sheriff’s Office or the Seminole County’s Sheriff Office. Tips can also be made anonymously through Crimeline at 800-423-8477.