By: Richard L. Smith
Hudson County Prosecutor Esther Suarez said one man has been arrested, and an arrest warrant has been issued for another in connection with the death investigation of Luz Hernandez, 33, of Jersey City, who was found deceased in Kearny.
According to Prosecutor Suarez, Cesar Santana, 36, and Leiner Miranda Lopez, 26, both of Jersey City, are each charged with one count of Desecrating/Concealing Human Remains in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:22-1, a crime of the second-degree.
Prosecutor Suarez said Santana was arrested shortly after midnight on Friday, February 10, 2023, at a motel on Biscayne Boulevard in Miami, Florida, by members of the United States Marshals Service Southern District of Florida, in conjunction with the United States Marshals Service New York/New Jersey Regional Fugitive Task Force.
He is being detained at the Miami-Dade Turner Guilford Night Detention Center as a Fugitive from Justice pending extradition to New Jersey.
Miranda Lopez has not yet been apprehended, and anyone with information regarding his whereabouts is urged to contact the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office at 201-915-1345. His image is the person in the middle.
Prosecutor Suarez said on Monday, February 6, Luz Hernandez was reported missing to the Jersey City Police Department.
On Tuesday, February 7, 2023, a welfare check was conducted on Van Horne Street regarding the missing person’s report.
The findings resulted in the Jersey City Police Department contacting the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office for assistance, and Cesar Santana was identified as a person of interest in the matter.
During the course of the investigation, Prosecutor Suarez said it was determined Cesar Santana and Leiner Miranda Lopez were involved in a motor vehicle stop on Sunday, February 5, 2023, on Central Avenue in Kearny, prior to Luz Hernandez being reported missing.
The vehicle was unregistered and impounded by the Kearny Police Department.
A court-authorized search of the vehicle was executed on Tuesday, February 7, 2023, and additional evidence was recovered.
The Kearny Police Department, knowing details of the traffic stop, led the Homicide Unit to the area of Central Avenue and Third Street in Kearny, where investigators ultimately located what appeared to be a shallow grave.
The body of a female – later identified as Luz Hernandez, 33, of Jersey City – was recovered a short time later, and she was pronounced dead at the scene at 4:53 p.m.
The Regional Medical Examiner’s Office determined the Cause of Death to be Blunt Force Trauma to the Head and Compressions to the Neck and the Manner of Death to be Homicide.
A timeline and summary of the investigation thus far is as followed:
On Sunday, February 5, 2023, The Kearny Police Department conducted a traffic stop on Central Avenue of a vehicle occupied by Cesar Santana and Leiner Miranda Lopez. The vehicle was unregistered and impounded.
• Monday, February 6, 2023, A missing person’s report was filed with the Jersey City Police Department for Luz Hernandez.
• Tuesday, February 7, 2023, The Jersey City Police Department conducted a welfare check on Van Horne Street.
A crime scene was located, the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office was notified, and Cesar Santana was identified as a person of interest.
The Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office learned of the traffic stop in Kearny.
The Kearny Police Department informed the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office it was still in possession of the vehicle, and a court-authorized search warrant was executed on the vehicle.
The Kearny Police Department led the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office Homicide Unit to the area of the traffic stop, and a shallow grave was located near Central Avenue and Third Street.
The body of Luz Hernandez was recovered on Thursday, February 9, 2023, an autopsy performed by the Regional Medical.