Authorities say the bodies of a missing Theodore mother and her two children were discovered Wednesday in Baldwin County, buried together in a wooded area off Downing Road in Summerdale. The criminal complaint states they were wrapped in plastic and bedding before being buried. The victims have been identified as 40-year-old Aurelia Choc, her 17-year-old daughter Niurka Zuleta Choc, and her 2-year-old son Anthony Garcia Choc.
“This is a horrific and gruesome murder,” said Mobile County District Attorney Keith Blackwood.
The criminal complaint states the family was killed with an “edged weapon.” Investigators say Anthony suffered sharp-force trauma to the head, and Aurelia sustained sharp-force injuries to the chest and back. The motive for the killings remains under investigation.
“What motive would there be for killing a 2-year-old? We don’t know,” Mobile County Sheriff Paul Burch said during a press conference on Thursday.
Sheriff Burch previously said there were no signs of forced entry at the Theodore home. However, investigators found blood throughout the house and evidence of a struggle. Authorities also said a mattress and a clothes hamper were missing from the home, while the victims’ cell phones and cash were left behind, as per Mynbc15.
The family was last seen alive on Friday, Jan. 30. Hector Argueta-Guerra, who was initially charged with kidnapping the family from their home, is now charged with their murders. Investigators say they do not yet know whether the victims were alive when they left the home.
“Honestly, we don’t know right now. We have a lot of questions ourselves,” said Burch.
Argueta-Guerra now faces multiple charges, including three counts of capital murder during the course of kidnapping, three counts of capital murder during the course of burglary, capital murder for the deaths of two or more persons, capital murder for the murder of a child under the age of 14, three counts of abuse of a corpse, and obstruction of justice for allegedly providing false identification to law enforcement.
“The state will be seeking the death penalty,” said Blackwood.
Burch says Argueta-Guerra is believed to be a member of the Sureños gang and has a lengthy criminal history, including active warrants in El Salvador. Burch said the suspect had previously been ordered to be deported but was released in 2021. During the press conference, Burch criticized the Biden administration, saying federal officials bore responsibility for the family’s deaths.
“We wouldn’t be standing here today if this defendant, who has an extensive criminal history, was not released under Biden’s administration in 2021. So, Biden, Harris, Mayorkas, Merrick Garland has the blood of this family on their hands,” said Burch.
Prior to the press conference, Burch said the White House contacted local authorities to offer federal support and resources in the investigation. The investigation remains active, and officials say more information will be released as it becomes available.
On Friday March 13, 2026, Hector Guerra was ordered to be held with no bond. He has a preliminary hearing scheduled for April 6.
MCSO released the following statement Thursday afternoon: On March 11, 2026, three bodies were discovered buried in a wooded lot in Summerdale in Baldwin County. We believe the deceased are members of the Choc family. Jewelry bearing the names of the mother, Aurelia, and her two-year-old son, Anthony, was recovered with the bodies. Please note, however, that official forensic identification has not yet been completed. Court records show that all three were killed with “an edged weapon” and suffered “sharp force trauma.” The records further describe the wounds to Aurelia were on the chest and back, and 2-year-old Anthony Garcia suffered a wound to the head. No information on Niurka was provided in the records.