In a disturbing case from Florida, a woman who was found dead in a burning car last year was later discovered to have been involved in a drug money laundering operation. The woman, Katherine Aguasvivas, 41, was reportedly helping her estranged husband in the illegal business when she was tragically killed.
What Happened?
In April 2023, Katherine Aguasvivas was waiting at a traffic signal near Winter Springs, Florida, when a man suddenly entered her vehicle. The entire incident was captured on camera. Hours later, her body was found inside a burnt-out car parked at a construction site in Boggy Creek, Osceola County.
At first, the case appeared to be a random carjacking and murder, but police soon found that Katherine had been specifically targeted.
The Real Reason Behind the Murder
As per official reports and court records, Katherine had travelled from Homestead to Seminole County to collect $170,000 in drug money. This money was to be delivered to her husband, Miguel Aguasvivas, who was allegedly involved in a major drug money laundering operation.
She had been separated from her husband at the time but continued working for him to support herself, earning $1,000 per trip. It is reported that she had made over 10 trips like this before her murder.
Who Is Involved?
Three people have been indicted in connection with her murder:
- Giovany Crespo Hernandez
- Jordanish Torres Garcia
- Kevin Ocasio Justiniano
According to court documents, these men plotted to rob and kill Katherine as she travelled with the large sum of cash.
Husband’s Role in the Crime
Miguel Aguasvivas, Katherine’s husband, was running a money courier operation. He worked with people he believed to be money launderers, though one of them turned out to be an undercover DEA agent. The operation involved converting large amounts of cash into cryptocurrency, which would then be sent to a Colombian drug cartel.
On the day of her murder, Miguel was supposed to make the money pickup himself or send someone else, but that trip was cancelled.
Legal Proceedings
Miguel Aguasvivas has now been charged with conspiracy to commit money laundering. He has agreed to a plea deal and could face:
- Up to 20 years in prison
- A fine of up to $500,000
He is expected to appear in federal court on Friday, where the judge will decide whether to accept his plea deal.