Mexico City, Mexico – The body of Reyna Hernandez, a 54-year-old woman from Renton, Washington, has been discovered in a cemetery along a highway in Mexico, authorities report. Hernandez went missing on February 26 and was last seen running errands and did not return home, prompting friends to report her disappearance on February 28.
During the investigation into Hernandez’s disappearance, Renton Police stated that evidence indicated she was taken against her will. Detectives pursued multiple leads and search warrants in their efforts to locate her. The case took a significant turn when Mexican authorities found an unidentified body in a cemetery on the Tijuana Highway on March 8, prompting Renton Police to provide information that led to the identification of Hernandez over the weekend.
After contacting Mexican officials, a suspect in the case was arrested on unrelated charges. Authorities confirmed that a 61-year-old Renton resident was in custody in Mexico, where Hernandez’s vehicle was also recovered. Although the nature of the relationship between Hernandez and the suspect was not specified, authorities suspect it was a domestic violence crime.
Investigations Commander Chandler Swain expressed condolences to Hernandez’s family and friends, calling her death the “worst possible outcome.” Authorities are collaborating with Mexicali police and U.S. federal partners to determine the timeline and location of Hernandez’s death. They are also working to establish whether the homicide occurred in the U.S., with potential plans to seek extradition of the suspect if necessary, allowing them to face charges in the respective jurisdiction.