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The cell phone video is haunting because it looks so ordinary at first. A white Dodge Durango is sitting at a red light in Winter Springs, Florida. It's broad daylight. Then, a man in a mask hops out of a green Acura, points a rifle at the driver, and climbs into the back seat. This was the last time anyone saw Katherine Altagracia Guerrero de Aguasvivas alive.
Most people saw the headlines back in April 2024 and thought it was a random act of road rage or a carjacking gone wrong. It wasn't. Honestly, the deeper investigators dug, the more it felt like a script for a gritty crime drama. We now know this wasn't just a "wrong place, wrong time" situation. It was a targeted hit connected to a massive drug trafficking and money laundering ring that spanned from South Florida to Colombia.
The Brazen Reality of the Katherine Altagracia Guerrero de Aguasvivas Case
When Katherine left her home in Homestead that morning, she told her husband, Miguel Aguasvivas, she was going to visit family. That was a lie. Or maybe it was a story they both agreed on. Federal investigators later revealed she was actually driving four hours north to Central Florida to pick up $170,000 in drug money.
The "friend" she was meeting? Giovany Joel Crespo Hernandez.
Katherine had done this before. Federal court documents suggest she had made at least ten similar trips to the Orlando area, acting as a courier. Her husband allegedly paid her about $1,000 per trip to help her pay her bills. It’s a tragic detail that paints a picture of a woman caught in a dangerous game far above her pay grade.
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What Happened at the Red Light?
Around 4:00 PM, Katherine noticed a green Acura following her. She called her husband. She told him they were ramming her car. His advice? Don't stop. Neither of them called 911.
By the time she reached the intersection of East Lake Drive and Tuskawilla Road, she had to stop for the light. That’s when Jordanish Torres-Garcia—the man in the mask—forced his way into her car. Within two hours, her Durango was found torched at a construction site in Osceola County. Katherine’s body was inside.
The Investigation Explodes: Corrupt Cops and Cartel Links
The case of Katherine Altagracia Guerrero de Aguasvivas didn't stay a simple carjacking for long. It spiraled.
First, there was the deputy. Francisco Estrella, an Orange County Deputy and a "family friend" of the Aguasvivas family, used his official access to dig into the lead detective's personal information. He recorded conversations with investigators and sent them to Katherine’s husband. He was arrested and charged for essentially spying on the murder investigation for the victim's family.
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Then came the arrests of the actual hitmen.
- Jordanish Torres-Garcia: The gunman from the video.
- Kevin Ocasio-Justiniano: The driver of the green Acura who helped torch the car.
- Giovany Crespo Hernandez: The man who was supposed to hand over the $170,000 but allegedly orchestrated the robbery instead.
In January 2025, Ocasio-Justiniano pleaded guilty to kidnapping and carjacking resulting in death. He admitted that the plan was never just to take the money; it was a "violent criminal enterprise."
The Husband’s Shocking Plea
For months, Miguel Aguasvivas was portrayed as the grieving husband. That facade crumbled in late 2024. In April 2025, Miguel pleaded guilty to conspiracy to engage in money laundering.
He wasn't just a bystander. He was a money courier for a drug ring that funneled cash into cryptocurrency to pay off Colombian cartels. He admitted to sending his wife to pick up that $170,000, knowing the risks but perhaps never imagining they would turn on her.
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Why This Case Still Matters
The death of Katherine Altagracia Guerrero de Aguasvivas is a stark reminder of how thin the line is between "ordinary life" and the violent underbelly of the drug trade. Katherine was a 31-year-old mother. She lived in a suburban neighborhood. Yet, she was moving six-figure sums for international traffickers.
The investigation eventually led to over eight arrests. It linked back to a separate murder of a tow truck driver who had towed that same green Acura months earlier. It’s a web that proves nothing in this case was a coincidence.
Actionable Insights and Lessons
If you’re following this case or concerned about safety in similar situations, there are a few heavy takeaways:
- The 911 Factor: Sheriff Dennis Lemma emphasized that if Katherine or Miguel had called 911 when the ramming started, she might be alive. Never hesitate to call authorities if you are being followed.
- Digital Footprints: This case was solved almost entirely through "tech" breadcrumbs. Investigators used toll booth cameras, cell phone pings, and even a Facebook profile picture where a suspect was wearing the same clothes as the gunman in the carjacking video.
- Courier Risks: The "gig economy" of the criminal world is lethal. Acting as a "money mule" or courier is often seen by those involved as an easy way to make a few hundred bucks, but as this case shows, the stakes are life and death.
The legal proceedings for several of the defendants are still moving through the federal system in 2026. Miguel Aguasvivas faces up to 20 years in prison. The men who actually pulled the trigger and set the fire face life behind bars.
To stay updated on the final sentencing and court dates for the remaining defendants in the Middle District of Florida, you can monitor the federal court dockets or the Seminole County Sheriff’s Office official briefings.