Jersey City resident Cesar Santana has been charged with murder in connection to the death of 33-year-old Luz Hernandez, whose body was found in Kearny on February 7, 2023. Santana was arrested on Friday, February 10 in a motel in Miami, Florida, as a fugitive from justice and was extradited to New Jersey on February 21. He has also been charged with hindering, failing to dispose of human remains in a prescribed manner, and tampering with physical evidence.
During the investigation, it was found that Santana and another individual, Leiner Miranda Lopez, were involved in a motor vehicle stop in Kearny on February 5, 2023, prior to Hernandez’s reported disappearance. The vehicle was impounded, and a court authorized search of the vehicle on February 7, 2023, resulted in the discovery of additional evidence.
The body of Hernandez was recovered from a shallow grave in the area of Central Avenue and Third Street in Kearny. The Regional Medical Examiner’s Office determined the cause of death to be blunt force trauma to the head and compressions to the neck.
Santana is currently being held at the Hudson County Correctional Facility pending his first court appearance. The investigation is ongoing, and anyone with information is urged to contact the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office. Leiner Miranda Lopez, who has been charged with desecrating/concealing human remains, is currently at large, and anyone with information regarding his whereabouts is also urged to contact the prosecutor’s office.
Manhunt Underway for Second Suspect as Police Arrest One in Connection to Murdered Teacher Case
1st My condolences goes out to the family and friends of the deceased it’s so sad that someone can do someone that they supposed to Love like that. Why the picture of the other suspect was not in the article? 1 Love