A teenager dead in an act of unimaginable cruelty. The body of Kaitlin Hernandez, a 17-year-old high school senior, was discovered in a drainage ditch on Tuesday evening, an hour after her family reported her missing. The incident has sparked a massive manhunt for the killer, with the local police department and the community rallying together to bring justice to the young victim.
The family of Kaitlin Hernandez was left devastated when their daughter’s lifeless body was found discarded in a drainage ditch beneath an overpass on Dell Oak Drive. The body was discovered by officers from the San Antonio Police Department (SAPD) late on Tuesday night, soon after the family reported her missing.
“No parent should ever have to go through this. She was just a child, and she was left there like she was nothing. It’s monstrous,” said Angie Hernandez, Kaitlin’s mother, in an interview with local media.
The SAPD has since launched a rigorous investigation into the incident, with detectives working round the clock to gather evidence and locate the person responsible for the heinous act.
As part of their investigation, the SAPD detained a person of interest who is currently cooperating with the authorities. While the identity of this individual has not been released, the police have stated that no arrests have been made yet.
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“This is an active and ongoing investigation,” said a spokesperson for the SAPD. “Our detectives are working tirelessly to ensure justice is served for Kaitlin and her family.”
The cause of death was determined to be strangulation and blunt force trauma to the head, a chilling revelation that has only added to the urgency of the investigation.
In the wake of the tragic incident, the San Antonio community has come together to support the Hernandez family and aid the police in their investigation. The local Crime Stoppers organization has offered a reward of $5,000 for any information leading to an arrest in the case.
Meanwhile, a GoFundMe page has been set up by Kaitlin’s aunt, Crystal Rodriguez, to help the family cover funeral expenses. The page describes the family as being in a state of shock, especially since they had just lost another family member four months ago.
“We’re trying to have a proper funeral service for her,” wrote Rodriguez on the GoFundMe page. “Any help would be greatly appreciated.”
As the investigation continues, those who knew Kaitlin have been sharing memories of the vibrant teenager who was just months away from graduating high school.
“She was always trying to make others laugh,” Rodriguez wrote in her GoFundMe post. “She loved her family so much, and we loved her. She loved her dogs, she always slept with them. We miss her dearly.”
The family is currently planning a candlelight vigil for Kaitlin, to be held on Friday at 6 p.m. at 118 Ashland Drive. They hope the event will provide an opportunity for the community to come together and remember Kaitlin, while also drawing attention to the ongoing investigation.
As the San Antonio police continue to search for the person responsible for Kaitlin’s death, the community remains hopeful that justice will be served. In the meantime, the family and friends of Kaitlin Hernandez are left to mourn the loss of a young life that was brutally murdered.
“She had so much to look forward to,” said Angie Hernandez. “Now, all we can do is remember her and hope that whoever did this is found and held accountable.”
For anyone with information regarding the case, the SAPD has urged them to reach out to their Homicide unit at 210-207-7635 and provide them with case number SAPD24055687.
IMG SOURCE: Foxnews.com