Police in Texas are searching for the killer of a 17-year-old San Antonio girl, according to her family and local authorities. The girl was found dead in a ditch Tuesday evening, about an hour after she was reported missing.
San Antonio Police Department (SAPD) officers found Caitlin Hernandez’s body in a “culvert” under a bridge in the 7600 block of Del Oak Drive just before 11:30 p.m. Tuesday. said SAPD in a Facebook post Wednesday.
“We need to find out who did this, because she didn’t deserve to be left there like an animal. It was really ugly,” the victim’s mother, Angie Hernandez, told FOX San Antonio. It’s cruel,” he told FOX San Antonio. “I don’t know what this person was thinking or why they targeted her. I don’t understand it.”
On Thursday, SAPD announced it had detained a person of interest who is “cooperating and assisting with the investigation.”
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Caitlin Hernandez was about to graduate from high school in May. (Crimestoppers San Antonio)
“Detectives are still investigating. This is an active and ongoing investigation,” SAPD told FOX News Digital in a statement. “The person of interest identified in previous social media posts is cooperating with the investigation. No arrests have been made at this time.”
According to FOX San Antonio, Hernandez died from strangulation and blunt force trauma to the head.
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San Antonio Crime Stoppers is offering a $5,000 reward for any information leading to an arrest in the case.
San Antonio, Texas teen Caitlin Hernandez went missing Tuesday night and was found dead under a bridge. (Google Maps)
Hernandez’s aunt, Crystal Rodriguez, has organized a GoFundMe for the grieving family after Hernandez was “found murdered” just four months after his sister’s death.
”[T]He feels so unreal to us.If you can help her with anything, please help,” Rodriguez said in a description of the GoFundMe page. “We are trying to give her a proper funeral, just like we did for her sister.” When I was lying down and resting [four] A few months ago and now we are together in heaven. ”
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Hernandez’s family told FOX San Antonio that on the night she went missing, Hernandez left home to go for a walk with a male friend. Her friend returned home, but Hernandez did not.
Police in San Antonio, Texas are searching for the person who brutally murdered Caitlin Hernandez on Tuesday night. (GoFundMe)
In addition to the person of interest, police detained a friend for questioning, but authorities have so far made no arrests.
Hernandez was about to graduate from Roosevelt High School in May, his aunt said.
“She was funny and always made other people laugh. She loved her family very much and we loved her too. She loved dogs and was always with them. She was sleeping. We miss her so much,” Rodriguez wrote.
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If you have information leading to the identity of this person, please contact the SAPD Homicide Unit at 210-207-7635 and reference case number SAPD24055687.
The teenager’s wake will be held at 118 Ashland Drive on Friday at 6 p.m.
