SEMINOLE COUNTY, Fla. – Nearly two months ago, a Florida woman was captured on video being carjacked at an intersection near Winter Springs, leading detectives to investigate her homicide.
Since then, investigators have discovered that several other criminal cases are somehow tied to this carjacking, raising even more questions about why it happened.
Recommended Videos
Due to the growing number of people who have become embroiled in the investigation, News 6 has created the following list to keep them in order.
Below is a rundown of these figures and their relation to the carjacking based on information from law enforcement.
KATHERINE AGUASVIVAS — VICTIM
Katherine Aguasvivas is the victim in this case.
On April 11, she left her home in Homestead and drove to Seminole County. A green Acura began ramming her vehicle about a half-mile before she reached the intersection of East Lake Drive and Tuskawilla Road near Winter Springs.
After Aguasvivas stopped at a red light, a masked gunman approached her white Dodge Durango while pointing a gun at her. He then got into the back seat before both vehicles pulled away.
[WATCH THE VIDEO OF THE CARJACKING BY CLICKING IN THE MEDIA PLAYER BELOW]
Court records show that Aguasvivas was ordered at gunpoint to turn around again and head to a deserted construction site in Kissimmee, where she was ultimately set on fire in the Durango and fatally shot.
The Durango was found badly damaged by the fire later that evening in Osceola County, and Aguasvivas’ body was found inside.
Lemma told News 6 that Aguasvivas spent less than an hour in Seminole County, and his deputies had no knowledge of her living, doing business, or being in the county before this incident.
Her husband told deputies she was there to visit family. However, deputies were unable to find any relatives in the area at this point.
Instead, investigators later discovered that Aguasvivas had been in Casselberry to meet another man — Giovany Crespo Hernandez, 27 — to retrieve $170,000 in proceeds from illicit drug trafficking.
After driving from his home with the money, Crespo Hernandez and three other men conspired to rob her of the money, leading to the fatal carjacking, investigators later announced.
MIGUEL AGUASVIVAS — VICTIM’S HUSBAND
Miguel Aguasvivas is Katherine Aguasvivas’ husband. The pair owned two businesses in South Florida: a barber shop and a beauty salon.
After Katherine Aguasvivas was rammed by the green Acura, she called her husband, who reportedly told her not to stop.
After investigators found the body believed to be Katherine Aguasvivas, they called her brother and Miguel Aguasvivas to be interviewed. The two agreed to travel from Homestead to the Seminole County Sheriff’s Office the next day.
Upon their arrival, Miguel Aguasvivas provided his cell phone and allowed detectives to search the device.
However, during the search, investigators discovered that Miguel Aguasvivas had been in contact with an Orange County deputy regarding the investigation.
On April 23, Sheriff Dennis Lemma announced that Miguel Aguasvivas was no longer cooperating with the investigation.
FRANCISCO ALBERTO ESTRELLA CHICON— ORANGE COUNTY DEPUTY
Francisco Estrella Chicon is an Orange County deputy who became involved in this case thanks to Miguel Aguasvivas, the sheriff said.
After the discovery of Katherine Aguasvivas’ body, Estrella Chicon called one of the detectives in the case while using the pseudonym “Francisco Archuela,” according to investigators.
He claimed to be Katherine Aguasvivas’ cousin and repeatedly tried to get more details about the case from the detective. He was told it was an active investigation and that such information couldn’t be released, according to the sheriff.
While searching Miguel Aguasvivas’ phone, investigators discovered that Estrella Chicon and Miguel Aguasvivas had been sharing information about that detective, and Estrella Chicon had shared a video recording of their conversation with Miguel Aguasvivas, investigators said.
In addition, they said they found evidence that Estrella Chicon had used a law enforcement database to pull up personal information about the detective.
As such, Estrella Chicon was arrested. Four days afterward, Estrella Chicon was granted a $15,000 bond and released from jail.
Lemma later discussed Estrella Chicon’s arrest, revealing that Katherine Aguasvivas’ brother and Miguel Aguasvivas had called a mutual childhood friend — who just so happened to be Estrella Chicon’s wife.
MONICSABEL ROMERO-SOTO — DRUG SUSPECT’S GIRLFRIEND
While not directly related to the carjacking, Monicsabel Romero-Soto was arrested in a separate case involving a possible drug ring.
Investigators said they intercepted a package of cocaine via USPS that had been addressed to a St. Cloud home from Puerto Rico.
During a sting operation, Homeland Security personnel arrested Romero-Soto after she picked up the parcel at the home where it was delivered.
It was later found that Romero-Soto lived in Casselberry, and her boyfriend — Giovany Crespo Hernandez — was involved in a Central Florida drug ring, according to investigators.
Seminole County deputies executed a search warrant at Romero Soto’s home, where they said they found several thousands of dollars, drug ledgers, multiple cell phones, high-value stolen jewelry and firearms.
Alongside those items were several narcotics, including fentanyl, cannabis and other drug paraphernalia, detectives said.
GIOVANY CRESPO HERNANDEZ — SUSPECTED RINGLEADER
Romero-Soto’s boyfriend, Giovany Crespo Hernandez, was arrested on fentanyl possession charges days after Lemma announced in a news conference that authorities were searching for him.
Crespo Hernandez is believed to be the last person whom Katherine Aguasvivas spoke to. Lemma said those details were courtesy of the victim’s brother, who had apparently been investigating on his own.
Lemma said the brother didn’t recognize Crespo Hernandez, but he called him, took a screenshot of him, and gave that to detectives.
Detectives discovered Katherine Aguasvivas drove to Casselberry to meet with Crespo Hernandez, which prompted the search of his and Romero-Soto’s home.
In court documents released on Thursday, investigators said that Crespo Hernandez was responsible for arranging the robbery and carjacking to retrieve the $170,000 from Katherine Aguasvivas.
Crespo Hernandez is charged with carjacking, kidnapping and the use of a firearm — all of which resulted in Katherine Aguasvivas’ death.
JORDANISH TORRES-GARCIA — SUSPECTED GUNMAN
Jordanish Torres-Garcia is the man whom investigators said held Katherine Aguasvivas at gunpoint during the carjacking.
Investigators said he conspired with Crespo Hernandez to rob Katherine Aguasvivas of the $170,000 she received, and he was spotted at a gas station with another suspect buying lighter fluid shortly before the carjacking took place.
He was arrested by U.S. Marshals at a business in Orange County over a week after Katherine Aguasvivas’ body was found.
Lemma said his detectives had evidence Torres-Garcia bought the green Acura used in the carjacking on April 11.
They believe the same car was also seen at another homicide the day before, which involved a tow truck driver being gunned down in Orange County.
Torres-Garcia’s Facebook profile picture shows him wearing the same sweatshirt as the masked gunman during the carjacking, according to Lemma.
After his initial arrest in April, he was held in custody because he was wanted on gun charges out of Puerto Rico.
Court documents obtained by News 6 show Torres-Garcia was charged in federal court in 2015 after police searched an apartment where he was living and seized multiple guns and ammunition.
According to the documents, he pleaded guilty and was sentenced to three years in federal prison and three years of supervised release.
Records show Torres-Garcia was released from Coleman Federal Prison in Sumter County in October 2023.
He was instructed to report to the Casa Alborada Residential Reentry Center in Puerto Rico, but according to court documents, he never showed up.
A federal judge issued a warrant for his arrest in March, but he was not caught until law enforcement took him into custody on April 19.
When Torres-Garcia was arrested by Homeland Security in 2015, a records check revealed he had been convicted of a crime before.
Court records show Torres-Garcia also has a criminal history in Orange County.
Torres-Garcia is charged with carjacking, kidnapping and the use of a firearm — all of which resulted in Katherine Aguasvivas’ death.
KEVIN OCASIO JUSTINIANO — SUSPECTED DRIVER
Kevin Ocasio Justiniano — also known as “Kevo” — is another suspect in the armed carjacking case.
Investigators said Ocasio Justiniano was the driver in the green Acura, and he drove to a deserted construction site in Kissimmee alongside Katherine Aguasvivas in her Durango as she was held at gunpoint by Torres-Garcia.
After arriving there, Ocasio Justiniano then met with a fourth suspect to receive a firearm, which was used to shoot Katherine Aguasvivas after she was doused in lighter fluid, investigators added.
According to Lemma, a red Toyota Corolla was seen at the apartment complex where the green Acura was dropped off, and it picked up the occupants of the Acura after they finished cleaning off the Acura.
Lemma added that Ocasio Justiniano is believed to be the driver of the Corolla at that time.
Ocasio Justiniano is charged with carjacking, kidnapping and the use of a firearm — all of which resulted in Katherine Aguasvivas’ death.
DERECK RODRIGUEZ BONILLA — FOURTH SUSPECT
Dereck Rodriguez Bonilla is the fourth man arrested in this case, and his arrest was revealed in court documents released on Thursday.
Investigators said Rodriguez Bonilla — along with Ocasio Justiniano — was recruited by Torres-Garcia to help with the robbery and carjacking.
After Katherine Aguasvivas was forced to drive to a deserted construction site in Kissimmee at gunpoint, Ocasio Justiniano met with Rodriguez Bonilla to receive a firearm, investigators added.
That firearm was ultimately used to kill Katherine Aguasvivas before her body was burned in the Durango.
However, Rodriguez Bonilla later “falsely denied” providing the weapon, court records show. Instead, he claimed that he went to Kissimmee that day to loan $80 to Torres-Garcia.
Rodriguez Bonilla is charged with carjacking, kidnapping and the use of a firearm — all of which resulted in Katherine Aguasvivas’ death.
Anyone with more information about the case is urged to contact the Orange County Sheriff’s Office or the Seminole County Sheriff’s Office.
Alternatively, tips can be made anonymously through Crimeline at 1-800-423-8477.
For a day-to-day timeline of events as this story unfolds, click here.
Get today’s headlines in minutes with Your Florida Daily: