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1 arrested, 1 sought in death of Jersey City kindergarten teacher

By FOX 5 NY STAFF
Updated  February 10, 2023 10:29pm EST
Kearny
FOX 5 NY

Father of murdered NJ teacher's children arrested

Police have arrested 36-year-old Cesar Santana in connection to the death of 33-year-old New Jersey kindergarten teacher Luz Hernandez, and are still on the hunt for a second suspect.

NEW JERSEY - Police have arrested one man, and issued an arrest warrant for another, in connection with the death of Jersey City kindergarten teacher Luz Hernandez, whose body was found in a shallow grave in Kearny, authorities announced. 

Cesar Santana, 36, and Leiner Miranda Lopez, 26, both of Jersey City, are each charged with desecrating/concealing human remains.

Cesar Santana, 36, and Leiner Miranda Lopez, 26, are both charged with desecrating/concealing human remains. (Hudson County Prosecutor's Office)

Santana is the father of Hernandez's three children.

Santana was arrested Friday shortly after midnight at a motel on Biscayne Boulevard in Miami, where he’s being detained pending extradition to New Jersey. He is currently charged with desecrating or concealing human remains.

The investigation revealed Santana and Lopez were pulled over Sunday on Central Avenue in Kearny prior to Hernandez being reported missing. 

The vehicle was unregistered and impounded by police. They said that additional evidence was recovered, but they didn't disclose what they found.

Arrest made in death of NJ kindergarten teacher

An arrest has been made in connection with the death of a Jersey City kindergarten teacher whose body was found in a shallow grave in Kearny.

Timeline of Events

Sunday

  • Kearny police conducted a traffic stop on Central Avenue of a vehicle occupied by Santana and Lopez.
  • The vehicle was unregistered and impounded.

Monday

  • A missing person’s report was filed with Jersey City police for 33-year-old Luz Hernandez after she didn't show up for work at a Jersey City charter school.

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Tuesday

  • Jersey City police conducted a welfare check on Van Horne Street.
  • A crime scene was located and the prosecutor’s office was notified.
  • Santana was identified as a person of interest and a search warrant was executed on the vehicle.
  • Police led the prosecutor’s office to the area of the traffic stop, where a shallow grave was located near Central Avenue and Third Street.
  • The body of Hernandez was discovered.
The body of Luz Hernandez was found in this area of Kearny, N.J.

The body of Luz Hernandez was found in this area of Kearny, New Jersey.

Thursday

  • An autopsy determined Hernandez died of "blunt force trauma to the head and compressions to the neck."
  • The manner of death was ruled a homicide.

Hernandez was a teacher at the BelovED Community Charter School in Jersey City. Classes were canceled Wednesday.

According to her family, Hernandez and her husband have been separated since November, but still lived in the same home. They shared three children together -- a 2-year-old, as well as a 4th and 6th grader.

The Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office Homicide Unit is actively investigating the case with assistance from the Jersey City Police Department and the Kearny Police Department.

Anyone with information in connection with the case is asked to contact the Office of the Hudson County Prosecutor at 201-915-1345.