Luz Hernandez was reported missing on February 6 when she didn't turn up for work at BelovED Charter School in Jersey City.
Trigger Warning: The following article contains graphic details of crime and murder which some readers may find distressing.
The body of a 33-year-old kindergarten teacher who had been missing since February 6 has been found buried in a shallow grave just a few miles away from her home and her workplace, the police said, as per ABC News.
The body of a beloved 33-year-old Jersey City kindergarten teacher and mother of three was found in a shallow grave in Kearny, according to authorities. The grim discovery of Luz Hernandez left her community in mourning and investigators searching for answers. pic.twitter.com/uNeXQVJJHh
— PIX11 News (@PIX11News) February 9, 2023
Luz Hernandez, from Jersey City, New Jersey, was first reported missing on February 6, which led to the Jersey City Police Department conducting a welfare check the next day in regard to the missing person’s report, according to a statement by Hudson County Prosecutor Esther Suarez.
The body of a missing kindergarten teacher from Jersey City has been found. 33-year old, Luz Hernandez was a teacher at the Blessed Community Charter School. She leaves behind three children of her own. The Hudson County Prosecutor Homicide Unit is investigating. @News12NJ pic.twitter.com/NjuNCZ06o4
— Kimberly Kravitz (@KimberlyKravitz) February 9, 2023
Before discovering the body, officers with Jersey police saw “blood splatters” in Hernandez’s home near Lafayette Park, per NJ.
“During the course of the investigation, the Homicide Unit located what appeared to be a shallow grave in the area of Central Avenue and Third Street in Kearny,” Suarez said. “The body of a female was recovered a short time later and she was pronounced dead at the scene at 4:53 p.m.”
As per ABC News' New York City station WABC, an autopsy revealed on February 9 that she died of blunt force trauma to the head and compressions to the neck. She had been beaten and strangled, reported NBC New York.
An autopsy has revealed that a beloved Jersey City teacher and mother died of blunt force trauma to the head and compression to the neck. https://t.co/nlWSexexPn
— CBS New York (@CBSNewYork) February 10, 2023
Hernandez was a kindergarten teacher at BelovED Charter School in Jersey City, which was just a two-minute walk away from where she lived, according to WABC. She was reported missing after she failed to show up to work at the school on Monday.
Hernandez's cousin, who wished to stay anonymous, spoke to NBC New York about the family's pain and suffering. "She was one of the best teachers, everybody loves her, all the kids," the cousin said, per the outlet. "It's just like, so complicated to think about this. We want justice."
Friends and loved ones are mourning the death of kindergarten teacher Luz Hernandez, a 33 year old mother of three from Jersey City who was found dead in a shallow grave in Kearny Wednesday. No arrests. Hudson Co homicide unit investigating. @wcbs880 @1010WINS pic.twitter.com/HVSqIQ3n3R
— Mack Rosenberg (@MackRosenberg) February 9, 2023
The school’s founder, Bret Schundler, called Hernandez an amazing person and a wonderful kindergarten teacher who developed close relationships with staff and students, according to WABC. "This will be a shock to the entire community," he told the outlet.
“[She was a] very pleasant woman, beautiful children. It is sad that she passed away. I feel terrible,” a neighbor identified as Monique told WABC in an interview. “She always seemed so pleasant so I really didn’t think something so severe [could happen].”
Body of #NewJersey kindergarten teacher and mother of 3 #LuzHernandez found in shallow grave
— Law & Crime (@lawcrimenews) February 10, 2023
Full story here: https://t.co/cIbWY45GLe pic.twitter.com/2GtnlZ5ryZ
Hernandez left behind three young children, two of whom were students at the school she taught at. All classes at the school were canceled on February 8.
“The Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office Homicide Unit is actively investigating this case with assistance from the Jersey City Police Department and the Kearny Police Department,” said Hudson County Prosecutor Esther Suarez.
An arrest has been made in the death of a Jersey City teacher.
— Syma Chowdhry (@SymaChowdhry) February 10, 2023
The Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office just posted this.
Luz Hernandez’s body was found in a shallow grave in Kearny after she was missing since Monday.
We will have more on @News12NJ this morning. pic.twitter.com/BlqPX4ePRb
Hudson County Prosecutor's Office also revealed that "An arrest has been made in connection with the death investigation of Luz Hernandez." But did not give any further details.
References:
https://www.facebook.com/HCProsecutor
https://abc7ny.com/luz-hernandez-kindergarten-teacher-killed/12791437/
Cover Image Source: Youtube | News ABC7 NY