Slain Jersey City Teacher's Ex Had Blood, Ax, Rope In Car: Complaint

HUDSON COUNTY, NJ — Two days after slain Jersey City teacher Luz Hernandez disappeared from her home on Feb. 4, her estranged husband — now charged with her murder — reported her missing, according to an affadavit filed by the Hudson County Prosecutor's Office.

Court documents reveal how investigators came to suspect husband Cesar Santana in the violent death of Hernandez, 33, a mother of three whose body was found in a shallow grave in an industrial part of Kearny on Tuesday, Feb. 7.

Prosecutors have said that she died from neck compressions and blunt force trauma to the head.

The prosecutor's complaint says that after both Hernandez's workplace and Cesar Santana reported her missing on Monday, Feb. 6, investigators found out Santana and another man had been pulled over in a car in Kearny the day before.

Investigators also went to Hernandez' home on Feb. 6 and found blood and cleaning supplies, the report says.

When investigators searched Santana's car, which had no registration and had been impounded, they found blood stains, black hair, a pick axe, a rope, and a black and yellow bin, the complaint says.

Seen Heading Into Her Home

The complaint notes that on the night of Saturday, Feb. 4, Santana was seen walking toward Hernandez' Van Horne Street house, where she was the only one home.

An hour later, the complaint says, Santana was seen dragging away a yellow and black bin, the complaint says.

Hernandez was captured on Friday, Feb. 10 by U.S. marshals at the Sinbad Hotel in Miami, Florida.

The complaint says that when Santana was found, he had two of Luz Hernandez's cell phones and five other phones with him.

Santana, 36, was charged with murder this week. He has also been charged with hindering, tampering with physical evidence, and failing to dispose of human remains in a manner prescribed by law.

The other man who was in the car with Santana, Leiner Miranda Lopez, 26, of Jersey City, is still at large, prosecutors said. He's been charged with desecrating/concealing human remains.

The victim taught kindergarten and was working on her master's degree.

She would have celebrated her 34th birthday this week, Friday, Feb. 24.

She left behind children 3, 9, and 12 — two of whom attended the school where she taught. A GoFundMe has been started for the children by her sister.

Her death on Feb. 4 was the fourth homicide identified as a domestic violence killing in New Jersey so far this year, but two more domestic violence killings of women have occurred in the state since that time.

READ MORE: 1 Man Arrested, 1 Sought In Death Of Jersey City Teacher

Where To Get Help

Each county in New Jersey has a domestic violence agency, and the state has its own hotline.

The national domestic violence hotline, reachable through phone, text, or chat, is 800-799-SAFE (7233), or you can text "Start" to 88788 to reach them by text.

The New Jersey hotline is 1-800-572-SAFE (7233). The list of county agencies and other information on how to protect oneself legally in New Jersey is here.