"On November 16th, Luisa Ventura and her grandson Arturo Hernandez left the Las Vegas area after visiting family and were headed to Southern California," said Detective Robert Warrick, San Bernardino County Sheriff's Dept.
When grandmother and grandson failed to return to Pomona, family members filed a missing-persons report. On November 20, Ventura's vehicle, a 2002 Toyota pickup truck with materials Ventura sold at flea markets, was found in Barstow. On the Nov. 25, the body of the 58-year-old grandmother was discovered along a remote road off Interstate 15 in the Mountain Pass area. There were signs of trauma.
"The coroner has done a report and the doctor has done the autopsy. His findings have not yet been concluded. Right now the cause of death is pending. Thanksgiving Day, family members actually spotted him in Southern California, called law enforcement. We contacted Mr. Hernandez, interviewed him, and following the interview he was placed under arrest and booked for murder," said Det. Warrick.
Hernandez is being held in the Central Detention Center in San Bernardino. He was arraigned Wednesday in Barstow court. The court records of the proceedings indicate the 28-year-old made an unusual request.
"At the arraignment he actually asked the judge for lethal injection. The judge apparently found that out of the ordinary. I was not present for the arraignment but had been told that he acted peculiar," said Det. Warrick.
Investigators would like to talk to anyone who may have had contact with Luisa Ventura or Arturo Hernandez between Nov. 16 and Nov. 25.
Anyone with pertinent information on this case is asked to call the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Homicide Division at (909) 387-3589.
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