The bodies believed to be of Aurelia Choc Cac and two of her children — Niurka Zuleta Choc and Anthony Garcia Choc — were found this week

Aurelia Choc, Niurka Zuleta Choc, Anthony Garcia Choc.Credit : 

Remembering The Choc Family – Mobile, Alabama/Facebook

Authorities in Alabama have recovered the remains of bodies they believe belong to a missing mother and her two children who mysteriously disappeared in January.

Aurelia Choc Cac, 40, and two of her children — Niurka Zuleta Choc, 17, and 2-year-old Anthony Garcia Choc — were reported missing on Jan. 31 from their Mobile County, Ala., residence, local police said at the time.

Following an extensive search involving the Mobile County Sheriff’s Office and the FBI, the sheriff’s office announced on Thursday, March 13, that they recovered remains they believe belong to the three missing victims.

Their remains were found in Summerdale in Baldwin County, the sheriff’s office said in a statement, per NBC 15.

Alabama authorities also announced they are charging suspect Juan Carlos Argueta Guerra, 31, with three counts of capital murder. Guerra, who is at times referred to as “Hector” by police, has been in custody since his arrest on Feb. 9 in connection with what police allege were the victims’ kidnappings.

The remains were found buried in plastic and bedding covering, according to a criminal complaint cited by NBC 15. Authorities allege the victims bore signs of a “gruesome” murder.

The bodies were found alongside jewelry that had Anthony and Aurelia’s names, the sheriff’s office said in the statement cited by NBC 15.

All three were killed with an “edged weapon,” the complaint states. Anthony — the 2-year-old — had signs of sharp force trauma to the head. His mother Aurelia had sharp force wounds to her chest and back.

Juan Carlos Argueta Guerra (left); and Aurelia Choc Cac Niurka Zuleta Choc Anthony Garcia Choc.Mobile County Metro Jail; Mobile County Sheriff’s Office/Facebook

The three victims were reported missing by a neighbor on Jan. 31. Investigators found signs of a struggle inside the residence, per a sheriff’s office statement at the time.

There was also a mattress missing from the residence, where investigators found a lot of blood as well.

Juan Carlos Argueta Guerra (left); and Aurelia Choc Cac Niurka Zuleta Choc Anthony Garcia Choc.Mobile County Metro Jail; Mobile County Sheriff’s Office/Facebook

Another suspect in the case — who was not mentioned in connection with the killings but had been arrested following the alleged kidnapping — was known to Aurelia, police previously said.

Sliverio Garcia, 60, was Aurelia’s employer. He had been in a relationship with her 21-year-old daughter and was living with her at the time of the killings.

Garcia, who was on a Homeland Security Investigation (HSI) hold because of his undocumented status, had been charged with possession of a pistol of certain persons forbidden, per the sheriff’s office.

“This is a horrific, gruesome murder,” Mobile County District Attorney Keith Blackwood said at Thursday’s briefing.

The Mobile County District Attorney’s Office said at Thursday’s briefing that they are upgrading the charges against Guerra to three counts of capital murder during the course of kidnapping; three counts of capital murder during the course of a burglary; capital murder for the death of two or more people; capital murder of a child under the age of 14; three counts of abuse of corpse; and obstruction of justice by providing false identification to police.

The DA’s office said they will be seeking the death penalty.