Gravesite Visitor Victimized By Corona Woman With Criminal Past: Cops

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA — A Corona woman with an alleged criminal history is now accused of ripping off a victim who was visiting a gravesite in San Bernardino County.

Emily Hernandez, 32, remained jailed Tuesday at Rancho Cucamonga's West Valley Detention Center in lieu of $150,000 bail following her arrest last week. She was charged with multiple felonies, including grand theft, fraud and other serious crimes, and was due in court Tuesday.

According to the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department, the victim was visiting a gravesite at Green Acres Cemetery, 11715 Cedar Avenue, in Crestmore, around 8 p.m. Sept. 13, when someone slipped into her vehicle and stole her purse.

"The suspect took the victim’s credit cards and made multiple fraudulent purchases in the Fontana area before the victim was able to deactivate the stolen credit cards," the sheriff's department reported.

Detectives with the Fontana Sheriff’s Station took over the investigation and eventually identified Hernandez as the suspect. A warrant was issued for her arrest and jail records show she was taken into custody at about 10:30 a.m. Sept. 17 in Corona.

At the time of her arrest, Hernandez was driving a stolen 2020 Jaguar F-Pace and was on felony probation in Riverside County, the sheriff's department said.

Detectives determined Hernandez used fake identity documents to purchase the Jaguar from an Ontario auto dealership on Sept. 9, according to the sheriff's department.

Additionally, it wasn't the first time Hernandez stole from a gravesite visitor, the sheriff's department alleged.

The Corona woman was also responsible for a similar Sept. 5 theft at Loma Linda's Montecito Memorial Park & Mortuary, the agency said.

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