A Mobile County judge ruled there's enough evidence to pursue kidnapping charges against Hector Gamaliel Argueta-Guerra in the disappearance of Niurka Zuleta-Choc, her brother, and their mother. Evidence includes DNA, surveillance footage, and cell phone data.
) - A Mobile County judge determined Monday there is sufficient evidence to present kidnapping charges against Hector Gamaliel Argueta-Guerra to a grand jury. This after a preliminary hearing in which a major crimes detective testified about DNA results, surveillance footage, and cell phone data.
Argueta-Guerra faces three counts of kidnapping in connection with the disappearance of 18-year-old Niurka Zuleta-Choc, her 2-year-old brother Anthony, and their mother Aurelia Choc. The family has been missing since Jan. 31. Argueta-Guerra, who is in the country illegally from El Salvador, has pleaded not guilty.A major crimes detective testified that DNA results confirm blood found inside the home belongs to Niurka Zuleta-Choc. The detective said blood was found on a couch, on white shoes in the living room, on a bed, on a white trash bag in a bedroom, and on the master bathroom floor. Investigators have not released DNA results from a confiscated van.The detective testified that surveillance videos from nearby businesses linked the van to the abduction. Cell phone data placed Argueta-Guerra traveling the same route three times to and from the house the night of Jan. 30 into the early morning hours of Jan. 31. Argueta-Guerra borrowed the van from his boss, who is dating his sister, the detective testified. When first interviewed by detectives and the FBI, Argueta-Guerra denied being near the Choc home. He said the van belonged to his boss but confirmed the tracked cell phone was his and that no one else uses it. Investigators said they are still retrieving data from his phone. Investigators also say the owner of the van is not being ruled out as a suspect, but he is cooperating with authorities. The detective said no fingerprints or footprints were recovered from the home and that there are no witnesses to the alleged abduction.Argueta-Guerra was arrested in Baldwin County after bailing out of a car and hiding under a home from law enforcement. He has pending charges for that out of Baldwin County. Investigators said he has a lengthy criminal past, including warrants out of El Salvador for alleged gang activity, and that he is a member of the Sureños gang.The detective said investigators have searched areas along the route Argueta-Guerra allegedly traveled the night the family disappeared. Additional searches are planned once more resources become available.Mobile County District Court judge resigns after less than a year on benchALEA: SUV, tractor-trailer in head on crash: 2 dead, 2 injured on Alabama 158 SaturdayMPD: Victim dies after being struck by vehicle on Old Shell Road ‘My mom is only human’: Daughter of missing woman who was found ‘alive and well’ 24 years later breaks her silenceFight for Big Creek Lake access escalates with new legislation, multiple lawsuits
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