It’s been one year since the body of a 14-year-old missing teen was found dumped in a Grant Hill ravine, and her community still has very few answers as to what caused her disappearance and murder.
Anna Hernandez, 14, was found dead from a gunshot wound to her upper body on Nov. 18, 2015. Her body was wrapped in a blanket and left behind the home of another missing teen, who police described at the time as a runaway.
Family members said Hernandez disappeared five days before her body was found. At the time, they said they were frustrated with San Diego police, describing them as slow to respond to their missing person crisis.
SDPD homicide investigators did not initially notify the public about the Nov. 18 homicide, instead describing the discovery of the body as a non-suspicious death.
NBC 7 first reported Hernandez’ murder, along with the disappearance of another child, Nelly Espinoza, 12. Espinoza left home the same day as Hernandez, later calling her family to confirm she had run away to Mexico.
Police arrested Espinoza on Nov. 28, 2015 on suspicion of being an accessory to Hernandez’ murder. She was prosecuted in Juvenile Court. Because juvenile proceedings are sealed, information about the outcome of the case is unavailable.
More recently, SDPD said there are no new developments in the case.
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Homicide Captain Brian Ahearn said it is important to keep Hernandez’ memory alive, as well as bring awareness to the crime. However, he said he could not discuss details of the open case.
“I am reluctant to discuss the case on camera because of the sensitivity of the investigation,” Ahearn said.
Prior to her murder, Hernandez was the victim of another violent crime. Court records and family confirm two juvenile boys sexually assaulted her in Mountain View park on Sept. 21, 2015.
The two minors were charged in that violent attack.
Police looked last year for a “person of interest” in connection with the homicide: 16-year-old Janeth Mendoza went missing near the 3000-block of Webster on Nov. 13, 2015, the same day as Hernandez and Espinoza left home. Police believe Mendoza fled to Mexico.
They also searched for 19-year-old Daniel Flores, describing him as armed and dangerous.
Mendoza is 5-foot-5inches tall, 160 pounds, has black hair, brown eyes. She has a Charger bolt tattoo on her neck and "Bella" on her right front forearm and "Perla" on her left forearm.
No description for Flores has been given.
