JERSEY CITY MAN RETURNED TO NEW JERSEY AND FACES MURDER CHARGES
" Caesar Santana, Returned To New Jersey & Now Stands Charged With Murder For The February 5, 2023 Killing Of Luz Hernandez."
Wednesday, February 22, 2023 5:30 P.M. ET. By Art Fletcher: Englebrook Independent News,
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JERSEY CITY, NJ.- Today, Hudson County Prosecutor Esther Suarez announced that Additional Charges have been Filed against a 36-Year-Old man in connection with the Death of Luz Hernandez, 33, of Jersey City, New Jersey. Ms. Hernandez's Body was discovered in a Shallow Grave on February 7, 2023, in a Shallow Grave in Kearny, New Jersey.
Caesar Santana, 36, of Jersey City has been Charged with One Count of First Degree Murder; One Count of Third Degree Hindering Apprehension; One Count of Third Degree Failing to Dispose of Human Remains as Prescribed by Law; and Fourth Degree Tampering with Physical Evidence.
Mr. Santana was Arrested at a Motel in Miami, Florida on Friday, February 10, 2023, on a Fugitive From Justice Warrant and had previously Charged with Second Degree Desecrating Human Remains. Mr. Santana was Extradited to New Jersey during the evening hours of Tuesday, February 21, 2023. Santana was Processed on the Additional Charges in the early morning hours Today. Mr. Santana is currently Lodge at The Hudson County Correctional Facility, in Kearny, New Jersey.
Mr. Santana's Codefendant, Leiner Miranda-Lopez, 26, of Jersey City has been Charged with Second Degree Desecrating or Concealing Human Remains. At the present time Mr. Leiner-Miranda has not been Apprehended and Remains at Large. Anyone with information regarding the Whereabouts of Mr. Leiner-Miranda is urged to contact The Hudson County Prosecutor's Office at (201) 915-1345.
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On Monday, February 6, 2023, Ms. Hernandez a beloved Kindergarten Teacher and Mother of Mr. Santana's Three Young Children was reported missing to The Jersey City Police Department. On Tuesday, February 7, 2023, Members of The Jersey City Police Department conducted a Welfare Check on Ms. Hernandez's Van Horne Street Residence. Results of the Welfare Check led Police Officers to contact The Hudson County Prosecutor's Office Homicide Task Force for assistance. Detectives quickly identified Mr. Santana as a Person of Interest in the matter.
During the course of the investigation, Detectives learned that Mr. Santana and Mr. Leiner-Miranda were Pulled Over by Members of The Kearny Police Department on Sunday, February 5, 2023, on Central Avenue in Kearny, prior to Ms. Hernandez being reported missing. The Vehicle was Unregistered and Impounded. A Court Authorized Search Warrant was Executed on the Vehicle on Tuesday, February 7, 2023, in which Additional Evidence was Recovered.
Police Officers from The Kearny Police Department, knowing details of the Traffic Stop led Hudson County Homicide Detectives to the area of Central Avenue and Third Street in Kearny, where Detectives located a Shallow Grave. The Body of a Woman, later identified as Ms. Hernandez was recovered and was pronounced deceased at the scene.
Subsequent Autopsy findings by 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.
The Homicide is being investigated as an Act of Domestic Violence. Anyone with information regarding the Death of Ms. Hernandez is Urged to contact The Hudson County Prosecutor's Office Homicide Task Force at (201) 915-1345.
" The Rules Of The Court Require Us To Include A Statement, That States: The Charges Outlined In This Publication Are Merely Accusations And The Defendant And Or Defendants Are Presumed Innocent Unless And Until Proven Guilty Beyond Reasonable Doubt."
FILED UNDER FEBRUARY 22, 2023: LAW, HUDSON: