Oak Forest Man, 28, Wrapped Vacuum Cord Around Wife's Neck 9 Times In Fatal Strangling, Prosecutor Says

VILLA PARK, IL — An Oak Forest man is accused of strangling his estranged wife to death with a vacuum cord, then allegedly confessing to the murder via text message, the DuPage County State's Attorney's Office said Monday.

Brian Hernandez, 28, of the 5400 block of Christopher Drive, appeared in court Monday, charged with two counts of first degree murder in the death of Estefania Abril-Hernandez. Hernandez initially first appeared in court on March 21, when the public defender requested the case be held until Monday.

Prosecutors say that at around 8 p.m. on March 18, the family of Estefania Abril-Hernandez contacted police to report her missing. The DuPage County Sheriff’s Office immediately began an investigation.

On March 19, at approximately 2:45 a.m., troopers with the Illinois State Police stopped Estefania’s car on I-80, allegedly being driven by Hernandez. Hernandez, who was allegedly in possession of Estefania’s cell phone, was taken into custody at that time.

Further investigation led authorities to Hernandez and his wife’s now-vacant former residence in the 100 block of 1S Ingersoll Road in Villa Park. Just before 4 a.m., after gaining access to the home through an unlocked window, authorities found Estefania dead, lying on a bed in a second-floor bedroom with a vacuum power cord wrapped tightly around her neck. A death investigation took place inside the home in the Brandywine subdivision.

Prosecutors allege that on March 18, Hernandez and his wife were at their former residence to clean up and retrieve personal items before the foreclosure auction scheduled for the next day.

The couple reportedly began to argue before the dispute turned physical. Hernandez allegedly then strangled his wife with a vacuum power cord that had been wrapped around her neck more than nine times, prosecutors said. Hernandez then fled the home, according to officials.

During the investigation, prosecutors say authorities found text messages allegedly sent by Hernandez to another person, stating “Hey **** please call me I have something to confess please” and “I’m pretty sure estefania is dead.”

Authorities also learned that Hernandez currently has an order of protection against him in conjunction with a criminal case that prohibits contact with Estefania and the couple's son.

Additionally, Hernandez is on pre-trial release and has an active failure to appear warrant in that criminal case in which he's accused of interfering with Estefania's attempt to report domestic violence.

"I offer my sincerest condolences to Estefania’s surviving family and friends and wish them strength as they continue their lives without the love and support she once provided," DuPage County State's Attorney Bob Berlin said.

"What makes this case particularly troubling is the fact despite having an active order of protection against him and being on pre-trial release for interfering with the reporting of domestic violence and then failing to appear in that case, Mr. Hernandez allegedly thumbed his nose at the law, and violently murdered his wife. Public safety is my office’s top priority. The fact that Mr. Hernandez was charged with interfering with reporting of domestic violence, a non-detainable offense, and released pre-trial, illustrates the need to strengthen the State’s Safe-T-Act to allow a judge the opportunity to detain an individual based on the facts and circumstances of each particular defendant’s case."

"I would like to commend our deputies in their efforts to locate Estefania," DuPage County Sheriff James Mendrick said.

"This tragedy deprived Estefania’s family of a loving mother, sister and daughter. The coordinated efforts of the Sheriff’s Office Deputies and Investigators, Illinois State Police and State’s Attorney Bob Berlin and his team allowed Hernandez to be apprehended and charged with this crime."

Hernandez was ordered to remain in custody until trial.

His next court appearance is scheduled for April 6.