Sonita Heng, 20, of Harbor City,. Juan Carlos Hernndez went to work one afternoon and never came home. This is him. Unseen family photos of Charles with Prince George and Princess Charlotte are Saboteurs derail Russian freight train with explosives 37 miles from Ukraine and destroy power cables in 'I've been stuck in A&E since 10.30pm last night please just pay NHS staff fairly': Tearful A&E patient Ballet princess! Working off an anonymous tip submitted to a police hotline, the detectives identified the man in the video as Ethan Kedar Astaphan, a bodyguard for the dispensary's owner, Weijia Peng, who went. And she led him to his death. TEO: A TEENAGER UNDER ARREST FOLLOWING A CONFRONTATION WITH POLICE IN YOLO COUNTY. Rallies Planned to Mark May Day in Downtown, Little Tokyo, Boyle Heights, Vehicle Hits Pole in Mid-Wilshire Area; Man Killed, One Person Killed in Fiery Hacienda Heights Crash, JPMorgan Chase Bank Agrees to Purchase First Republic Bank, Police Arrest 24 During DUI Checkpoint in Riverside, Coroner IDs Man Who Jumped or Fell From Freeway Overpass. The victim, Juan Hernandez, was last seen on Sept. 22 leaving his home for work at VIP Collective, a cannabis dispensary in South L.A. His family reported him missing when he didnt come home. His phone was off. El Caminos student poets slam their way to cash prizes, Memorial and reception for longtime El Camino coach to be open to the public, Warriors baseball walk off in the bottom of 10th against Mt. LAPD Robbery-Homicide Division detectives, with assistance from a SWAT team, served search warrants Thursday at the homes of Ethan Astaphan, 27, and Sonita Heng, 20, who were persons of interest, according to police. Your email address will not be published. They were being held on $10million bail each. A San Gabriel man was charged Monday with murdering a 21-year-old community college student whose remains were found in a remote area of the Mojave Desert nearly two months after he went missing in South Los Angeles. IT HAS A 70% EFFECTIVE RATE. Knowing her son is not lost, hungry or in pain has brought Hernndez some solace. The 10 most expensive zip codes in the U.S. In one of the photos, standing to the left of Astaphan and Hernandez is another man that Heng identified during the preliminary hearing as Peng. As word of his disappearance spread, Hernndez was getting calls at all hours from people who thought theyd seen him. Two people have been charged in connection to the murder of Juan Carlos Hernndez, a 21-year-old college student from California whose body was discovered in the Mojave Desert last week, according to authorities. The weeks slid by. I dont think people understand that, Yajaira Hernandez said. Hernndez and other family members checked out every tip, sometimes getting up in the middle of the night to head to skid row. The detectives got a search warrant for his phone records. Ethan Astaphan, 27, of San Gabriel,and Sonita Heng, 20, of Los Angeles, were arrested by LAPD detectives and SWAT officers last Thursday in connection to the death ofJuan Carlos Hernandez. Technicians at the LAPDs lab went to work on the cameras and realized someone had tampered with them. TEO: GOOD MORNING. The LAPD hasnt disclosed a connection between the suspects and Hernandez. Yajaira Hernndez told the Times her son was set to transfer to the University of Southern California to study engineering and that he was very protective of her. Less than a week after Hernandez was reported missing, the LAPD said that someone contacted the man's family and demanded a ransom in exchange for his safe return. Missing Calif. College Student Is Found Dead in Shallow Grave, and 2 Suspects Have Been Arrested, One Suspect Arrested, Another Sought in Slaying of N.J. Kindergarten Teacher Found Dead in Shallow Grave, Cold Cases Heat Up: How Advances in DNA Technology Are Helping to Bring Justice for Victims, Alaska Teen Killed 'Best Friend' After Man Online Allegedly Offered $9M for Videos of Murder in Catfish Scheme, New '20/20' Episode Examines Shocking Murders of 4 University of Idaho Students, 'Why Did You Kill My Daddy? Ethan Kedar Astaphan, 27, of San Gabriel faces one count of murder while Sonita Heng, 20, of Harbor City was charged with a count of accessory after the fact, according to a Los Angeles. 2020 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. Died. LAPD Robbery-Homicide Division detectives, with assistance from a SWAT team, served search warrants Thursday at the homes of Ethan Astaphan, 27, and Sonita Heng, 20, who were "persons of. Detectives arrested two people Thursday in connection with Hernndez's death, Ethan Astaphan, 27, and Sonita Heng, 20, according to the LAPD. VIP Collective LA was one of three pot shops on the same block of Western Avenue between 81st and 82nd streets. The suspicion she felt about the phone call soon gave way to dread. Many were found or reappeared when they were ready. Ethan Astaphan, 27, and Sonita Heng, 20, were arrested in Hernndez's murder following searches of their residences. The hearings will be pushed back to Sept. 21, 2021, at the Clara Shortridge Foltz Justice Center in Los Angeles, according to the criminal case calendar on the LA Court website. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. Interactive map shows how average age of nation varies by region as Mobsters burned alive, public stonings, gang-rape, ransom demands and political assassinations: How violence Mystery of Gina Lollobrigida's missing 9 million: Battle for Italian sex symbol's fortune takes a new twist 2 charged after body of missing college student from South L.A. found buried in Mojave Desert, Missing community college student found in shallow grave near Barstow - Los Angeles Times. Im sorry if Im overwhelming anyone with my videos, posts or anything, she wrote on Instagram. Do not sell or share my personal information. The Los Angeles Police Departments Robbery-Homicide Division worked with the FBI to investigate Hernandezs disappearance, and their efforts provided detectives with a sequence of events to find Hernandez, police said. His car was found two days later in the 6400 block of South Figueroa Street, nearly three miles away. A GoFundMe started to help the family with expenses has raised $26,418 of its $30,000 goal as of Tuesday. Astaphan and Heng were identified as suspects and arrested after LAPD detectives and SWAT officers served search warrants at their homes last Thursday. A joint effort by the LAPDs Robbery-Homicide Division, the San Bernardinos Sheriffs Search and Rescue Team, the San Bernardinos Sheriffs Homicide, and the FBI led to the discovery of Hernndezs remains on Nov. 15, 2020. Her gut told her something was wrong. DEIRDRE: ASTRAZENECA AT THE UNIVERSITY OF OXFORD SAY LARGE-SCALE TRIALS OF THE VACCINE IS HIGHLY EFFECTIVE. In a preliminary hearing was held over three days from Monday, Feb. 28 to Wednesday, March 2, 2022 before Judge Michael E. Pastor in Department 41. When she sees one, she pulls over and takes it down. WE ARE TRACKING A LITTLE BIT OF FOG. He told Hernndez the security cameras at the shop provided only a live feed, so there was no recording that might offer some clues of what happened. How Palm Springs ran out Black and Latino families to build a fantasy for rich, white people, 17 SoCal hiking trails that are blooming with wildflowers (but probably not for long! THE BREEZE WILL PICK UP TODAY BUT YOU WILL SEE TEMPERATURES PRETTY SIMILAR TO YESTERDAY. If convicted, Astaphan faces a possible maximum sentence of 25 years to life in prison, while Heng could face up to three years in prison, according to prosecutors. Ethan H. Shagan (born November 16, 1971) is an American historian of early modern Britain.Shagan is a professor of history at the University of California, Berkeley.He is also the chair of the History Department. When Hernndez asked about her son, the stores employees werent helpful. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Hernndez, a student at El Camino College, was reported missing by family on the night of Sept. 22. She taped her sons face on thousands of bus stops and light posts. Heng had returned to the country a week earlier, alone. Father dies eight days after getting stuck in indoor cave at tourist attraction: Tragedy at climbing wall as Did the King gift the late Queen's dresser Angela Kelly a house in bid to stop another royal memoir? Both were ordered to return to court Dec. 1, when a date is expected to. ': Ohio Man Sentenced for Murdering Family of 8, Idaho Murder Victims' Families React to Suspect's Arrest: 'Such a Blessing and Relief', Suspect Arrested in Killings of Four University of Idaho Students, Ex-Border Patrol Agent Convicted in the Deaths of 4 South Texas Women: Report, Woman Pleads Guilty to Helping Bury, Conceal Body of Murdered Ft. Hernandez had last texted his mom to say hed be home from work that night but he never returned. Yajaira Hernandez holds her cellphone with a photo of a cross placed where her son Juan Carlos Hernandez was found dead along Afton Road in the Mojave Desert. They are scheduled to be arraigned Monday. Astaphan has pleaded not guilty to murder. Hernndezs mother knew in her gut something wasnt right when her son didnt return from his job at a marijuana dispensary. He was last seen leaving his job at a marijuana dispensary in South Los Angeles earlier that night and had sent his mother a text saying he'd be home soon, according to the Los Angeles Times. 2023, Hearst Television Inc. on behalf of KCRA-TV. They were being held on $10 million bail each. Wed been trying to talk to Ethan about this boy, she said, adding that Astaphan and Peng moved to California about two years ago. If the police know why she came back, they didnt explain it in their warrants. Hearst Television participates in various affiliate marketing programs, which means we may get paid commissions on editorially chosen products purchased through our links to retailer sites. Peng looked on as Astaphan choked Hernndez, the detective wrote. They were wearing gloves and wiping down the shops interior with paper towels. . Police said that within a week of Hernandezs disappearance in September, a person tried to extort money from his family in exchange for his safe return, but detectives determined the attempted extortion was not related to his disappearance. The screen for King Charles' coronation anointing is revealed, Monstrous tornado seen bearing down on Palm Beach, Ukraine drone strike hits major fuel depot in port Sevastopol, Braverman: People crossing Channel are 'at odds with British values', Historic chairs to be reused by the King for the coronation service, Women's rights activists and pro-trans campaigners separated, Russian freight train derails and bursts into flames after explosion, Moment large saltwater crocodile snatches pet dog off beach in QLD, Doctor slams Laurence Fox for 'spewing out biased views', 'You motherf***ers don't understand': Bam Margera details 'turmoil', Australian tourist allegedly spits in the face of a Java Imam, Hundreds of Household Division members rehearse for coronation. Ethan Astaphan, 27, of San Gabriel was charged Monday with murder and Sonita Heng, 20, of Los Angeles was charged with being an accessory after the fact, the Los Angeles County district attorney's . On Sept. 22, 2020, 21-year-old El Camino College engineering student Juan Carlos Hernandez left from his home on Adams Blvd. One read, I want you to act like Juan was your son.. It. I AM TEO TORRES. This isnt the outcome we ever wanted or thought wed get, the distraught mother told the Times. Astaphan and Heng were arrested on . When she wasnt working, she spent countless hours taping up fliers across Los Angeles, and in Orange, Riverside and San Bernardino counties as well. The following suspects were arrested for 187 PC/Murder and booked at LAPD Jail: Ethan Astaphan, 27 years and Sonita Heng, 20 years" ADVERTISEMENT Hernandez was a student of El Camino College in California was last seen leaving his job at a marijuana dispensary in South Los Angeles on the night of September 22 and had sent his mother a text . On Sunday, human remains were discovered in a shallow grave along Afton Canyon Road east of Interstate 15 north of Barstow. c. 738. She is testifying against Astaphan as part of a plea deal. It was heartbreaking to come home every time shattered, empty-handed, without my son, she said. / KCAL News. Many were found or reappeared when they were ready. The car he was driving,a 2020 Honda Civic belonging to his mother, was found abandoned a couple of miles from his work two days later. Fashion Model. And he knew she needed her car to get to work. The Mail follows in Prince Harry's footsteps with a stay at a breathtaking resort on the isle of Grenada Now Leeds' own EX-PLAYERS pile in on their 'embarrassing' entitled stars who ignored young fans waiting to Leeds considering SACKING Javi Gracia - 10 weeks after he replaced Jesse Marsch - after run of five games 'We're not your enemies!' Balian declined to discuss a potential motive for the killing. Armed with a search warrant, the detectives forced open the door of VIP Collective LA early in the morning on Sept. 29. A $300-million (minimum) gondola to Dodger Stadium? 615 following. The police described his account of that night in a search warrant affidavit. Yet there was no footage before Sept. 23, the day after Hernndezs son had vanished. Sonita Heng, 20, of Harbor City, who is charged with being an accessory after the fact, also entered a not guilty plea. Peng was apprehended last week in Istanbul and is being held pending extradition to Los Angeles on a murder charge. TEO: RESEARCHERS SAFER PATIENTS GIVEN TWO FULL DOSES A MONTH APART HAD AN EFFECTIVENESS OF 62% EFFECTIVENESS. He also said he didnt want the police to get involved. The Los Angeles Police Department's Robbery-Homicide Division worked with the FBI to investigate Hernandez's disappearance, and "their efforts provided detectives with a sequence of events to find Hernandez,'' according to a police statement. His mother had put up thousands of fliers in hopes of finding her son and subsequently fielded multiple calls for ransom, The Times reported. This story has been shared 100,454 times. Ethan Kedar Astaphan, 27, of San Gabriel faces one count of murder while Sonita Heng, 20, of Harbor City was charged with a count of accessory after the fact, according to a Los Angeles County District Attorneys news release. Ethan Astaphan, 27, and Sonita Heng, 20, were booked into jail on suspicion of murder and were being held on $10 million bail each, according to inmate records. Detectives arrested two people Thursday in connection with Hernndez's death, Ethan Astaphan, 27, and Sonita Heng, 20, according to the LAPD. Authorities haven't released a possible motive or other details about the killing. Cops said Hernandez was the victim of a homicide. The hearings of two suspects accused of murdering an El Camino College student were postponed until Sept. 21 for unknown reasons. He made no effort to intervene, but rather walked to the back of the dispensary, closed the door, then returned to continue watching. DEIRDRE: LET US HEAD TO EILEEN JAVORA. Habib Balian, who is prosecuting the case. It wasn't clear if they had attorneys to speak for them.Astaphan faces up to 25 years to life in state prison if convicted. WHEN THE SHOT WAS JUST HALF A DOSE, THAT GREW TO 90%. It is unclear if they have obtained legal representation who can speak on their behalf or if they entered a plea at this time. Hernandez' family reported him missing on the night of September 22,. Ethan Kedar Astaphan is on trial as one of three defendants accused in the alleged murder of El Camino College engineering student Juan Carlos Hernandez. But his absence is a hole she does not expect ever to fill. or debate this issue live on our message boards. WE WILL TRACK THAT COMING UP. Matthew Ormseth is a reporter for the Los Angeles Times. She printed fliers with her sons photo and, with the help of family, posted them in the neighborhood around the dispensary. Two suspects have been arrested in the murder of a missing college student who was found in a shallow grave near a highway in California, authorities said Friday. But I still feel blessed that we found his body.. LOS ANGELES (CBSLA) The body of a missing Jefferson Park man has been found, the Los Angeles Police Department said Thursday. The search would take her to homeless encampments on skid row, to the steps of City Hall in protest, to remote corners of Southern California and to the dark underbelly of the citys marijuana industry. She left her phone number and asked that the owner call her. There was an error and we couldn't process your subscription. Sonita Heng, 20, of Harbor City, who is charged with being an accessory after the fact, also entered a not guilty plea. Peng exited the frame seconds before the video ended, leading detectives to conclude in the affidavit that he disabled the camera. . This is an archived article and the information in the article may be outdated. Cookies collect information about your preferences and your device and are used to make the site work as you expect it to, to understand how you interact with the site, and to show advertisements that are targeted to your interests. 1998 - 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved. She tries to smile, to laugh when she is around her other children, but I feel no form of happiness.. The caller identified himself as E, the owner of the dispensary. Ethan Astaphan and Sonita Heng were arrested Thursday in connection with the slaying of 21-year-old Juan Carlos Hernandez, a student at El Camino College in Torrence who vanished on Sept. 22, the Los Angeles Police Department said. It couldn't be determined Thursday evening if they had lawyers who could speak on their behalf. It is unclear at this time what led law enforcement officials to that location. The woman was Sonita Heng, Pengs 20-year-old girlfriend. The vehicle drove off down an alley. Invasion of the super rats: '300 million super-rodents' that survive off takeaway scraps and evade poisons Police fraud investigation into SNP 'probing whereabouts of 400,000 bequeathed in people's wills'. MyNewsLA.com wont sell your information and you can unsubscribe at any time. Romero described the image as showing Astaphan on top of Hernandez, with his right arm wrapped around Hernandez neck. 33.9K followers. 2023 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. When you visit this site, it may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. At the preliminary hearing, Hernandez coworker, Daniel Romero, gave testimony regarding photos recovered from the dispensarys surveillance camera. Before joining The Times in 2018, he covered city news and state politics at the Hartford Courant. Heng faces three years in prison. Two people have been charged in the killing of a Los Angeles marijuana dispensary worker whose body was found in a shallow grave in the Mojave Desert, authorities said Monday. Co-defendant Sonita Heng (dob 5/10/00) of Harbor City faces one count of accessory after the fact. I think theres no such thing as justice We kid ourselves and say were fighting for justice, but in reality, were just fighting for these individuals to obtain punishment, Yajaira Hernandez said. At the preliminary hearing, Hernandez' coworker, Daniel Romero, gave testimony regarding photos recovered from the dispensary's surveillance camera. @britishvogue @buzzfeed & ! He thought someone was robbing the dispensary and perhaps stealing its safe, but he didnt hear the sound of metal scraping against asphalt. Ethan Kedar Astaphan, 27, was expected to be arraigned sometime Monday in a downtown Los Angeles courtroom in the killing of Juan "Cookie" Carlos Hernandez. Any hopes, any dreams I had, theyre gone, she says. Her attorney declined to answer questions. Witnesses testified during the hearing that Astpahan, who was Hernandez supervisor, along with the dispensary owner, Weijia Peng, killed Hernandez and dumped his body in a remote section of the Mojave Desert. Ethan Astaphan, 27, of San Gabriel was charged Monday with murder and Sonita Heng, 20, of Los Angeles was charged with being an accessory after the fact, the Los Angeles County district attorney's office said in a statement. Meanwhile, Heng faces a three-year prison sentence. 2 charged in killing of SoCal marijuana dispensary worker. The latest breaking updates, delivered straight to your email inbox. She is testifying against Astaphan as part of a plea deal. The lots gate was sliding open. Both were booked on suspicion of murder. If convicted as charged, Astaphan faces a possible maximum sentence of 25 years to life in state prison, while Heng could be sentenced to up to three years in prison. Kelly Clarkson's Home Collection Is Up to 74% Off During Way Day Deals, The Best Wayfair Way Day Deals 2023 Starting at $30, Wayfair's Way Day Sale Includes Up to 60% Off Outdoor Furniture Here's What to Shop ASAP, Amazon Has So Many Good Mother's Day Gifts on Sale Right Now. If convicted as charged, Astaphan faces a possible maximum sentence of 25 years to life in state prison. Well send you the latest headlines every morning and every weekday afternoon. If found guilty, he may serve the possible maximum sentence of 25 years to life in state prison. A missing persons flier for Juan Carlos Hernndez, is posted across the street from the marijuana dispensary in South Los Angeles where he worked and was last seen. Sign up for PEOPLE's free True Crime newsletter for breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases. 2023 NYP Holdings, Inc. All Rights Reserved, set to transfer to the University of Southern California. The cameras did record. On Nov. 19, Jaramillo and Hammer knocked on Yajaira Hernndezs door. On Thursday, police arrested 27-year-old Ethan Astaphan and 20-year-old Sonita Heng on suspicion of murder in connection with Hernandez's death. Ethan Kedar Astaphan, 27, is currently facing one count of murder, the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office announced in a press release on Monday. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information, She was his best friend. Ethan Astaphan, 27, and Sonita Heng, 20, were arrested in Hernndez's murder . They seized its security camera system and discovered that E had lied to Hernndez. And some of the cases began with a missing persons report but ended with a murder charge. 2,066 posts. A judge gave the detectives permission to install a tracking device on Astaphans rented Ford truck in the middle of the night, and in early October, officers from the LAPDs secretive Special Investigation Section began tailing him. (Kim McGill | The Union). To piece together how the detectives investigated the case, The Times reviewed affidavits the detectives submitted to judges when applying for search warrants. Police said that within a week of Hernandez's disappearance in September, a person tried to extort money from his family in exchange for his safe return, but detectives determined the attempted extortion was not related to his disappearance. Hernandez body was found on Nov. 15, 2020, using cell tower evidence to track the route taken to the Mojave desert. Sonita Heng, 20, of Harbor City, who is charged with being an accessory after the fact, also entered a not guilty plea. A man and a woman have been charged with the killing of a 21-year-old Los Angeles marijuana dispensary worker whose body was found in a shallow grave in the Mojave Desert nearly two months after his disappearance. I'm a nanny and these two simple steps will guarantee your child sleeps for a full 12 hours every night. HE PULLED OUT A GUN, THROUGH IT INTO THE BUSHES AND RAN. Juan Hernandez, a 21-year-old South Los Angeles man missing since September of this year has been found dead, the Los Angeles Police Department said Thursday. Assistant Head Deputy Habib Balian of the Major Crimes Division said Ethan Kedar Astaphan (dob 6/1/93) faces one count of murder in case BA491591. SAC, Top 5 Things to try at Caf Camino and El Cappuccino, El Camino to hold emergency evacuation drill, Turnout shy in student government election, Meta-Majors Center aims to connect majors, services, clubs, El Caminos Eid al-Fitr prayer leaves feelings of unity and disappointment, Warriors beach volleyball team scores back-to-back wins to finish regular season, Student Health Services offer weekly mental health workshops, The student news site of El Camino College, Hearings of two individuals connected to ECC students death are postponed. The pieces were coming together, but a day after seeing the video, the detectives learned two of their suspects were no longer in the country. Firefighters Discover Man's Body While Battling Apartment Fire in South L.A. Police Investigate No-Hit Shooting in Long Beach, Chance of Showers, Strong Winds Predicted for Riverside County, Proudly powered by Newspack by Automattic. Heng has pleaded no contest to accessory after the fact. Ethan Astaphan, 27, and Sonita Heng, 20, are in custody on suspicion of murdering a community college student who went missing in L.A. and was found dead in a shallow desert grave. Please enter valid email address to continue. Personnel from the LAPD, the San Bernardino County Sheriffs Department and the FBI began combing that part of the Mojave Desert. Pengs then girlfriend, 22-year-old Sonita Heng, is accused of being an accomplice. Juan Cookie Carlos Hernandez was reported missing after being last seen on Sept. 22 in the 8100 block of South Western Avenue, and his vehicle was found two days later in the 6400 block of South Figueroa Street, nearly three miles away, according to the Los Angeles Police Department. Astaphan, of San Gabriel, faces one count of murder. Yajaira Hernandezs 21-year-old son, Juan Carlos Hernandez, went to work one afternoon in September 2020 and never came home. Please look at the time stamp on the story to see when it was last updated. He never returned home. Still, they worried that Hernndezs son had been the victim of foul play. Around 2:30 the next morning, some prostitutes working on Figueroa Street flagged down two LAPD officers and pointed out a Honda Civic idling near the corner of 64th Street, according to a search warrant affidavit and what police told Hernndez. Detectives arrested two people Thursday in connection with Hernndez's death, Ethan Astaphan, 27, and Sonita Heng, 20, according to the LAPD. A few minutes after 10pm, Hernandez sent his mother a text message saying he would be home soon, but he never made it back, reported Los Angeles Times. It. Astaphan pleaded not guilty on Monday after being charged with murder, while Heng pleaded not guilty to being an accessory after the fact. Then something changed, Most of Yosemite Valley is closed due to potentially perilous snowpack and flooding, What was behind the protest against an archaeologist at last weeks L.A. Times Book Festival, Column: If not cops or guns, what will it take to make us feel safe? Ethan Kedar Astaphan appeared in a downtown courtroom and pleaded not guilty in the killing of Juan "Cookie" Carlos Hernandez, according to the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office. They managed to extract a video file someone had tried to destroy. First published on November 19, 2020 / 8:04 PM. Both were ordered to return to court Dec. 1, when a date is expected to be set for a preliminary hearing to determine whether there is sufficient evidence to proceed to trial.