A week of tragedies has gripped the San Antonio community following the horrific circumstances surrounding the deaths of young Kaitlin "Sana" Hernandez and a family of four from El Paso. FOX San Antonio reported that Hernandez, 17, vanished on a Tuesday night, her life cut short by strangulation and blunt-force trauma. As investigators delve deeper, a person of interest has been contacted and is aiding the investigation.
On the other end in the city, a house fire brought to light a much darker story than originally believed. The Pescador family’s residence was engulfed in flames, but it was the discovering of murders cloaked within the blaze that truly shocked the community. Freddy Pescador, Blanca Pescador, and their children, Leslie and Freddy, were identified by police as the victims. According to KFOX-TV, Leslie Pescador lost her life to a gunshot wound, separating her cause of death from the others who perished in the fire.
As these two separate incidents compound the mourning of a city, the Hernandez family seeks closure through a vigil at 118 Ashland Drive. Candles and balloons will be brought to life in memory of a girl described by her sister Crystal as "loving and caring" and who "always had a smile on her face." Kaitlin, a high school senior soon to be graduating from Roosevelt High School, was remembered for her involvement in church and recent baptism.
Meanwhile, the Pescador family confronts their own grief. A family member remarked in a statement obtained by KFOX-TV: "Our whole world was turned upside down... My sister Blanca loved to laugh, and her entire world revolved around her kids and husband." They have since set up a GoFundMe page to bring their loved ones back to El Paso for proper services and to surround them with family in their final resting place.
The authorities and families of both cases are urging anyone with information to step forward. For Kaitlin Hernandez's case, the public can anonymously contact Crime Stoppers at 210-224-7867 with leads that may aid in the arrest, attached with a $5,000 reward. The respective web portals for donations and further assistance in these tragedies can be found on the families' GoFundMe pages, allowing the community to contribute in honoring the lost and seeking justice for the departed.
