The U.S. Marshals arrested the former partner of slain Jersey City teacher Luz Hernandez in Florida less than 24 hours after the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office noted that the incident was ruled a homicide.
By John Heinis/Hudson County View
“An arrest has been made in connection with the death investigation of Luz Hernandez. More to follow,” the HCPO tweeted at 12:52 a.m.
NBC New York first reported on the specifics of the arrest, identifying the suspect as Cesar Santana, a former partner of Hernandez, who has been charged with desecrating human remains.
HCV has independently verified the information, which is expected to be made public later today.
Hernandez, a well-liked kindergarten teacher at the BelovED Community Charter School, was reported missing on Monday, February 6th and was then found in a shallow grave in Kearny the following day.
A GoFundMe page started for her three children yesterday has already raised $12,701 from 147 different donors, with an overall goal of $20,000 set.
“She was a passionate educator worked tirelessly to improve children educational abilities,” Jenny Taveras, Hernandez’s sister, wrote in the page description.
“Luz was a victim of domestic violence who was murder and found dead by the Jersey City Police Authority. These fund will contribute to a scholarship fund for all her children.”
Hernandez is the second Jersey City teacher that has been killed in a two-week time frame, with Temara King, 35, gunned down by her husband on January 24th.
Additional information regarding Santana’s arrest and a second suspect being sought can be found here.
