Renton, Washington – Murder charges have been officially filed against a man accused of killing business owner Reyna Hernandez, 54, in February. The King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office has charged 61-year-old Lous Hernandez with first-degree murder in connection to her death. Reyna Hernandez was found dead in a cemetery in Mexico in March after being reported missing from Renton in late February.
Lous Hernandez was arrested in Mexico for possession of drugs and ammunition shortly after Reyna Hernandez’s body was discovered. The Renton Police Department stated that Lous Hernandez will remain jailed in Mexico while awaiting extradition to King County to face trial, with prosecutors requesting a $5 million bail due to him being classified as a substantial threat to the community and a flight risk.
According to court documents, Lous Hernandez allegedly shot Reyna Hernandez within minutes of her entering his home on February 26, then used a winch system from his son’s Jeep to move her body into the back of her vehicle before driving to Mexico. Reyna Hernandez’s body was found in a Mexican cemetery about a week later.
Detectives from the Renton Police Department immediately began investigating after Reyna Hernandez disappeared in late February. Her body was identified in a cemetery in Mexico in early March, wrapped in a blanket and tied to a tree. Investigators suspected foul play in her disappearance and contacted Mexican authorities to assist in the case.
Reyna’s sister, Ivonne Carrillo-Hernandez, spoke to the media, expressing the family’s grief and the difficult time they are going through. The family is raising funds for funeral services and plans to eventually take her back to Monterrey, her original hometown. The FBI assisted in returning Reyna Hernandez’s body to Washington, where an autopsy determined her death to be a homicide.
Since her body was found, efforts have been in place for extradition from Mexico to face trial in King County. The investigation continues as authorities work to bring justice for Reyna Hernandez and her family in this tragic case.