A Winter Haven, Florida woman has been arrested as the second suspect in the murder case of 20-year-old Sierra Hernandez. The arrest came after human remains were discovered in a pile of burned objects. Daphne Fernandez, 44, appeared in court on Wednesday and is facing charges of attempted felony murder, abuse of a body, kidnapping, and accessory after the fact. This follows the arrest of 26-year-old Enrique Martinez, who is also a suspect in the murder of Hernandez as well as Edil Rodriguez, who was killed at a homeless camp on November 8, 2023.
Martinez had been evading capture for two months but was finally apprehended on Tuesday when he was spotted on a sidewalk in Winter Haven. Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd commended his deputies and detectives for their relentless pursuit of the suspect. Court documents reveal that Hernandez’s mother reported her daughter missing on January 14. A witness stated that Fernandez and Martinez were seen together at Fernandez’s home on January 10, where Hernandez appeared to be bound and held against her will.
When the witness intervened, Fernandez and Martinez allegedly charged at them, prompting the witness to flee. Fernandez was later stopped by law enforcement on January 15 while driving Hernandez’s car. She was initially arrested for driving with a suspended license. During a subsequent search of Fernandez’s home, investigators discovered Hernandez’s medical paperwork from January 8 and a pile of burned items in the backyard that contained human remains. Further investigation revealed that Fernandez had lied about her possession of Hernandez’s vehicle, assisted in concealing the murder, and aided Martinez in evading arrest.
Daphne Fernandez is currently in custody at the Polk County Jail, held on a $1 million bond. The investigation into the murder of Sierra Hernandez and Edil Rodriguez continues.
