Sierra Hernandez.Photo:GoFundMe
GoFundMe
• Five members of Hernandez’s family were arrested while following a tip to find her, but those charges have been dropped
A Florida woman’s family is in mourning after her presumed death, which five family members learned about while in jail after being arrested while searching for her, according to multiple reports.
Sierra Hernandez, 20, was reported missing on Jan. 14, and a body believed to be hers was discovered on Jan. 19. The Polk County Sheriff’s Officeannounced last weekthat they believe Hernandez was murdered, but a public information officer tells PEOPLE authorities are still awaiting confirmation of her identity through DNA.
A woman who was allegedly driving Hernandez’s car has now been arrested and charged with numerous offensesin connection with Hernandez’s presumed death, the public information officer tells PEOPLE.
That woman, Daphne Fernandez, 44, was arrested on Jan. 15 and has been charged with kidnapping, attempted murder, abuse of a dead body and accessory after an act of capital felony, per the sheriff’s office.
Sierra Hernandez.Sierra Hernandez/Facebook
Sierra Hernandez/Facebook
That man, Enrique Martinez, 26, was arrested on Jan. 23 in connection with theNovemberkilling of Edil Rodriguez, per the sheriff’s office, and has been charged with first degree murder, tampering with evidence as well as resisting arrest among other charges.
Martinez has not been charged in connection with Hernandez’s case.
Hernandez’s family members have said they were arrested when they tried to conduct their own search for the missing woman at a location they had been tipped off about,Fox 13,WTSPandWESHreported.
They were all arrested on Jan. 19 and released on Jan. 24, and had been charged with evidence tampering, while some were charged with trespassing and/or armed burglary, online records show.
"I would do this over and over again for her, you know, to be put back where we were," Amber Merzacco, one of the family members who’d been arrested, told Fox 13. “I would do it for her again.”
Charges against all of Fernandez’s family members were dropped, the sheriff’s office tells PEOPLE. However, three of them said they’d lost their jobs after being released,WFLAreported.
Enrique Martinez & Daphne Fernandez.POLK COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE
POLK COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE
Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Sign up forPEOPLE’sfree True Crime newsletterfor breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases.
The victim went to that location on Jan. 9 to see a man she’d met online, per the affidavit.
The two spent the night there and after the man briefly left the next day, he alleged to police he returned to see Hernandez tied up, per the affidavit. He also alleged he saw Martinez, who he recognized as the murder suspect police had been looking for. He claimed that when he tried to intervene on behalf of Hernandez, Martinez “charged” at him, after which the man fled.
Another witness told police she’d overheard three men discuss how Hernandez had been tied up and was being tortured in Fernandez’s home, the affidavit alleges.
An investigation is ongoing and further charges may be added, the sheriff’s office tells PEOPLE.Both suspects will appear in court for their arraignments on all charges in February, court records show.
source: people.com
