Recently, a Texas teenage girl was brutally murdered while going on a walk, leaving the family searching for answers. According to the Bexar County Medical Examiner, 17-year-old high school student Kaitlin Hernandez died of strangulation.
Hernandez’s body was discovered underneath a bridge in her neighborhood roughly two weeks ago, where her family is demanding justice following her tragic death. “The person or persons who did this to my niece, Kaitlin, is still out there, and we just want them to come forward,” said Kaitlin’s aunt, Crystal Rodriguez.
According to reports, Herandez was going on a walk with a male friend on March 12 around 7:30 p.m. before she disappeared. Kaitlin’s grandmother was anticipating her to return within half an hour to an hour later. However, the high school student never came back home.
Growing worried, Hernandez’s family contacted the authorities. Shortly after, her body was discovered naked in a drainage ditch. “At this time, this investigation is still active and ongoing by the SAPD Homicide Unit,” according to a statement San Antonio Police Department spokesperson Ricardo Guzman. “Currently, we have no updates to provide at this time.”
Hernandez’s aunt continued describing Kaitlin, depicting her as a kind-hearted Christian with ambitions of becoming a veterinarian fueled by her love for animals. “Kaitlin didn’t hate anybody. Nobody that we’re aware of hated Kaitlin. She just got baptized last year. She was getting more involved into God. She was going to church. She loved and cared for animals. She was going to be a veterinarian after she graduated,” Rodriguez stated.
“She had a lot of goals and a lot of dreams, and they took that from her,” the aunt added, becoming visibly emotional. “She was loving. She was kind. She was never mean to anybody. I don’t know why somebody would do this to her.”
Police have detained the male friend who accompanied Hernandez during the evening of her death as a person of interest. Reportedly, the individual is cooperating with authorities in their investigation. As of writing this article, he has not been named or cleared as a suspect in the crime.
Per Rodriguez, the area in which her body was discovered is known for drug activity and homelessness. “She loved everybody and she was so sweet. She encouraged everybody. We don’t know who could’ve wanted to hurt her,” she said.
Hernandez’s family maintains that they just want “justice” and “peace” for the deceased teenager, calling for anyone with information on the crime to come forward. “The message to the public is just, please, if they know anything, just come forward. We want justice. We want peace,” Kaitlin’s aunt pleaded. “And just… hug your loved ones every day because one day, we’re here; one day, we might not be.”
Texas congresswoman Mayra Flores Vallejo offered her condolences to the family and friends of Hernandez. “My sincerest condolences to the family and friends of Kaitlin Hernandez. Kaitlin Hernandez’s family is desperate for answers after the 17-year-old high school senior was found dead in a ditch near the San Antonio, Texas area. No arrests have been made,” she wrote on X.
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