Sheriff's deputy charged with accessing files on carjacked Homestead woman feared dead
MIAMI - An Orange County Sheriff's deputy and his wife were arrested by the Seminole Co. Sheriff's Office as they investigate the case of a Homestead woman who was carjacked and is feared dead.
Katherine Altagracia Guerrero de Aguasvias, 31, was carjacked at gunpoint last Wednesday at an intersection in unincorporated Seminole County. It was captured on cellphone video.
Authorities believe her body was found in a burned-out car at a construction site in nearby Osceola County. Detectives are still working to make a positive identification. The carjackers remain at large.
During the Seminole sheriff's investigation, Orange Co. Deputy Francisco Estrella and his wife were arrested for reportedly illegally accessing information on the investigation.
Investigators said Estrella and his wife are friends with Aguas-Viva's husband. He is accused of posing as a detective on the case to get information. Both he and his wife are also accused of illegally accessing a database with the addresses and photos of the real detectives working the case.
This connection and their couple's correspondence with the husband were discovered when Guerrero de Aguasviva's husband turned over his phone to investigators.
Estrella has been charged with five felonies regarding the case.
He appeared in court -- and is claiming law enforcement exemption.
In a second development, a green 2002 Acura driven by one of Aguas Viva's carjackers was found abandoned at an Orange County apartment complex.
Seminole sheriff's investigators said the car is tied to another murder the day before Aguas Viva's suspected death.
The Seminole County Sheriff says that Aguas Viva's husband has been cooperative with the investigation.
He is not currently a person of interest in her kidnapping and suspected death, but the sheriff says that could change.
