A search that began for a missing family in January ended in tragedy when their bodies were found in a wooded area, according to officials from Alabama State Police.
The family, consisting of a 40-year-old mother, her 17-year-old daughter, and her 2-year-old son, were last seen at their home on January 30. They were reported missing the following day. Their identities have since been confirmed as Aurelia Chok Kaku, Niulka Zureta Chok, and Anthony Garcia Chok.
“If this defendant, who has a long history of violent crime, had not been released during the Biden administration in 2021, we wouldn’t be here today,” stated a Mobile County law enforcement officer.
Evidence of a struggle was found at the family’s home, leading investigators to identify 31-year-old Juan Carlos Argueta Guerra, later confirmed as Hector Gamaliel Argueta Guerra, as a key suspect. He was arrested on kidnapping charges in February and is now linked to this horrific incident.
On March 13, the sheriff’s office announced they had discovered remains believed to belong to one of the family members in Summerdale, Baldwin County.
“This is a horrific, gruesome murder case,” said Mobile County District Attorney Keith Blackwood during a press conference.
Reports indicate that Argueta-Guerra, a member of the Sureños gang from El Salvador, has an extensive criminal history, which includes a detention order in 2016 for acts related to terrorism. He faced further allegations in 2018 and 2024.
Despite this history, Mobile County Sheriff Paul Burch reported that Argueta-Guerra had previously been deported and was released under the Biden administration.
“If this defendant, who has an extensive violent criminal history, had not been released under the Biden administration in 2021, we would not be standing here today,” Burch reiterated.
In addition to kidnapping, Argueta-Guerra faces multiple charges, including:
- Three counts of first-degree kidnapping.
- One count of capital murder involving a child under 14.
- One count of obstruction of justice through false identity.
- Three counts of corpse abuse.
- Three counts of capital murder with robbery.
- Three counts of capital murder with kidnapping.
- One count of murder involving multiple victims.
Argueta-Guerra has pleaded not guilty and is expected to appear in court in April, with the district attorney intending to pursue the death penalty.
“Hector, you are a sick man for what you did to this family. If convicted, you will never see the light of day again,” the sheriff’s office remarked.
