Ethan Kedar Astaphan, 27, 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. She blanketed Instagram, Twitter, TikTok and Reddit with her sons story, signing off each post with the hashtag #helpmefindjuan. Back it in. A vehicle backed up to the rear door of the dispensary and bumped into the building. Ethan Astaphan, 27, and Sonita Heng, 20, were arrested in Hernndez's murder following searches of their residences. And hard as it was, she reminded herself that he was capable of making his own decisions. c. 738. Kate takes Charlotte to watch Cinderella at the Royal Opera House ahead of her 8th Fury at vegan school dinners: Farmers vow to resist council moves to go plant-based by scrapping all meat 'A waste of licence payers' money!' A few minutes after 11 p.m., Astaphan suddenly took Hernndez to the ground, put him in a chokehold and held him down until his body went still, according to the affidavit. The San Bernardino County coroners office positively identified Hernandez and ruled his death a homicide. But his absence is a hole she does not expect ever to fill. 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. Peng's then-girlfriend Sonita Heng, was charged as an accomplice and has negotiated a plea deal in exchange for her testimony against Astaphan and Peng. 'Grandpa King is adorable!' Heng faces three years in prison.Authorities haven't released a possible motive or other details about the killing. Hood Soldier Vanessa Guillen, 17-Year-Old Charged with Murder in Deaths of N.C. Schoolmate Devin Clark and Lyric Woods, How a Calif. 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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!' 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. 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. She printed fliers with her sons photo and, with the help of family, posted them in the neighborhood around the dispensary. 2,066 posts. 'Hes a great kid, smart, kind, great personality, always helpful,' his mother, Yajaira Hernandez, told KTLA in late September. The suspicion she felt about the phone call soon gave way to dread. Peoples was sleeping in the parking lot behind VIP Collective LA when a sound startled him awake. Part of the Daily Mail, The Mail on Sunday & Metro Media Group. 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 . 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. THE BREEZE WILL PICK UP TODAY BUT YOU WILL SEE TEMPERATURES PRETTY SIMILAR TO YESTERDAY. If convicted as charged, Astaphan faces a possible maximum sentence of 25 years to life in state prison. Every time she called, the detectives told her, Were looking into it. She understands now they couldnt tell her about their investigation, but at the time she believed they didnt share her urgency the urgency of a mother whose child is gone. 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. Great Expectations viewers slam BBC for CHANGING ending of the Dickens From breathtaking beaches to epic waterfalls and lost valleys: Fascinating new guidebook bursting with From being born a man to Queen of the Mountains: Trans cyclist romps to victory in elite in women's race Cookery's ultimate hellraiser dead at 46: British Masterchef host Jock Zonfrillo lost his virginity at 12, Pictured: 'Much-loved son', 35, stabbed to death in knife rampage outside Cornwall nightclub which left Why you DON'T need to ask your in-laws' permission to propose! DEIRDRE: ASTRAZENECA AT THE UNIVERSITY OF OXFORD SAY LARGE-SCALE TRIALS OF THE VACCINE IS HIGHLY EFFECTIVE. One person said a young man who looked like him was at 7th and Hill streets, talking to himself. Editors Note: Added featured image on May 12, 2022, at 12:41 a.m. 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. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Citing cellphone records, detectives alleged in an affidavit that Astaphan, Peng and Heng traveled to an area between Barstow and Baker in the early hours of Sept. 23, then returned to South L.A. You altered our future forever.. Peng looked on as Astaphan choked Hernndez, the detective wrote. Two people have been arrested and charged in connection to the killing of Juan Carlos Hernandez in Los Angeles. EXCLUSIVE Home win! The San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department's search and rescue team found Hernandez's remains Nov. 15 in a shallow grave along Afton Canyon Road, east of Interstate 15, north of Barstow. It is unclear at this time what led law enforcement officials to that location. I wish I had the knowledge, power or money to do more.. And he knew she needed her car to get to work. The woman was Sonita Heng, Pengs 20-year-old girlfriend. Astaphan's defendant, 20-year-old Sonita Heng, has been charged with one count of accessory after the fact, officials said. Heng has pleaded no contest to accessory after the fact. or debate this issue live on our message boards. Sign up here for our free newsletters. If the police know why she came back, they didnt explain it in their warrants. Ethan Astaphan, 27, and Sonita Heng, 20, were arrested early Thursday and booked for allegedly killing 21-year-old Juan Hernndez after he was last seen alive Sept. 22, the Los Angeles. 2020 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. 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. We've received your submission. Why not be the first to send us your thoughts, Ethan Astaphan, 27, of San Gabriel pleaded not guilty Monday after being charged with murder and Sonita Heng, 20, of Los Angeles pleaded not guilty to being an accessory after the fact.. THIS IS KCRA 3 NEWS AT 4:00. Before the start of the May 3 hearing, Hernandez mother, Yajaira Hernandez, expressed her exhaustion and frustration with a long process that makes her healing difficult. He was one of 3,781 people reported missing last year in Los Angeles. In a pre-trial hearing in the case of the People of California vs. Ethan Kedar Astaphan on Tuesday, May 3, at Clara Shortridge Foltz Courthouse in downtown Los Angeles, Astaphan, 28, of San Gabriel, waived his rights to a speedy trial and agreed to return to court on July 6 for another pre-trial hearing. It wasn't clear if they had attorneys to speak for them. 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. During the warrants, Astaphan and Heng were arrested for suspicion of murder, police said. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Jennifer Hammer, a Los Angeles County Police Department detective in the Robbery-Homicide Division, testified in the preliminary hearing that she recovered cell phone records from Astaphans phone which was taken at his arrest on Nov. 19, 2020. He saw headlights and heard someone call out, Turn around. When Hernndez reported the calls to the police, her sons case was handed to Jennifer Hammer and Daniel Jaramillo, detectives in the LAPDs Robbery-Homicide Division who specialize in kidnappings, extortions and other complex crimes. On Sept. 24, authorities found his car about two miles from his job. Required fields are marked *. Ethan & Evan. ': 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. On Nov. 15, Hernandezs body was found buried in a shallow grave along Afton Canyon Road east of Interstate 15, in a remote area of the Mojave Desert between Barstow and Baker. Two days later, cops found his 2020 Honda Civic abandoned about two miles from his job at a marijuana dispensary, the Los Angeles Times reported. It is unclear if they have obtained legal representation who can speak on their behalf or if they entered a plea at this time. team, served search warrants Thursday at the homes of Ethan Astaphan, 27, and Sonita Heng, 20, who were described as "persons of interest'' in the case. 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. DEIRDRE: I AM DEIRDRE FITZPATRICK. Heng faces three years in prison. Hernandez, a student at El Camino College, was reported missing on the night of September 22, after finishing an afternoon shift at theat VIP Collective dispensary on the corner of Western Avenue and 81st Street. The cause of death was not released, but police said he appeared to be the victim of a homicide.. She did the only things she could: She called the police and she started looking. All three of the small, shabby storefronts were unlicensed and operating illegally, a detective wrote in an affidavit. Ethan Astaphan, 27, and Sonita Heng, 20, were arrested in Hernndez's murder . 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. The last call he had received was at 10:25 p.m. on the night he disappeared, from the same number E had used to call his mother. One of the thousands of fliers distributed by Hernndezs family ended up in the hands of Roy Peoples Jr., a homeless man. Authorities haven't released a possible motive or other details about the killing. His car was found two days later in the 6400 block of South Figueroa Street, nearly three miles away. 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. Hernandez had last texted his mom to say hed be home from work that night but he never returned. 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. This location, Heng said, was where Astaphan and Peng left Hernandez body. It couldn't be determined Thursday evening if they had lawyers who could speak on their behalf. 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. 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. 'Silver Spoons' star, MyPillow guy helped get Kenosha gunm Woman has 'loud, full body orgasm' in the middle of LA concert, Georgia player under fire after racist remark during 2023 NFL Draft on livestream, $76K NJ boarding school admits falling 'tragically short' in protecting teen who killed self after relentless bullying, 'rapist' taunts, Pregnant Rihanna models vintage Chanel ahead of Met Gala 2023, Inside Nick Cannons extravagant Six Flags celebration for twins 12th birthday, Prince Harrys coronation role still a mystery as Williams is revealed, NY Post Sports Reporter Zach Braziller breaks down the Knicks game 1 loss to the Heat, Elon Musk Tells Bill Maher Woke Mind Virus Is Dangerous On Real Time, Padma Lakshmi claps back at trolls: 'I have boobs, I have nipples'. Astaphan pleaded not guilty on Monday after being charged with murder, while Heng pleaded not guilty to being an accessory after the fact. Bail is set at $10 million for each defendant. The San Bernardino County Sheriffs Department Search and Rescue Team found Hernandezs remains Sunday in a shallow grave along Afton Canyon Road, east of Interstate 15, north of Barstow, police said. Los Angeles County Assistant District Attorney Habib Balian appeared for the people, and Larson Hahm, a Los Angeles County deputy public defender, represented Astaphan. LAPD Robbery-Homicide Division detectives, with assistance from a SWAT team, served search warrants last Thursday at the homes of Astaphan and Heng, identifying them at the time as ``persons of interest'' and arresting them later that day. Judge Lynn Hobbs presided over the hearing in Department 117. TEO: A TEENAGER UNDER ARREST FOLLOWING A CONFRONTATION WITH POLICE IN YOLO COUNTY. Hes a great kid, smart, kind, great personality, always helpful, his mother, Yajaira Hernandez, told KTLA a few days after his disappearance. Juan Hernandez, 21, was reporting missing by his family Sept. 22 after not returning home from work. Peng fled to Turkey where he has been detained and is fighting extradition. Any hopes, any dreams I had, theyre gone, she says. 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. IT HAS A 70% EFFECTIVE RATE. THE TEEN WAS NOT HURT. First published on November 19, 2020 / 8:04 PM. Sign up for PEOPLE's free True Crime newsletter for breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases. 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. VIP Collective LA was one of three pot shops on the same block of Western Avenue between 81st and 82nd streets. @britishvogue @buzzfeed & ! It wasnt just that you murdered our loved ones. It. An officer at the Los Angeles Police Departments Southwest station took a missing persons report over the phone, but seemed dismissive of her worries: Hes an adult, she remembers him saying. They were being held on $10million bail each. 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. Astaphan faces up to 25 years to life in state prison if convicted of murder. 615 following. Digital Original: Juan Carlos Hernndez's remains were found by authorities in a "shallow" grave east on Nov. 15, according to the LAPD. Habib Balian, who is prosecuting the case. On Sept. 22, 2020, 21-year-old El Camino College engineering student Juan Carlos Hernandez left from his home on Adams Blvd. 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. Hernandez body was found on Nov. 15, 2020, using cell tower evidence to track the route taken to the Mojave desert. Cluain-Bronach in Meath. 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. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Check for a confirmation email, and then you're all set with MyNewsLA.com! The circumstances of his capture were unclear, said Deputy Dist. Published: 21:42 BST, 24 November 2020 | Updated: 21:56 BST, 24 November 2020. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information, She was his best friend. Both were ordered to return to court Dec. 1, when a date is expected to. . Sonita Heng, 20, of Harbor City, who is charged with being an accessory after the fact, also entered a not guilty plea. Astaphan, a citizen of the island of Dominica in the Caribbean, met Peng while living in the New York City area, according to his mother, Connie Didier. Juan Carlos Hernndez went to work one afternoon and never came home. Peoples heard the hatch of the vehicle fall open, then grunting noises men make when they are carrying something heavy. Please reload the page and try again. Plane crashes into hillside in Beverly Crest; 1 dead, BestReviews.com - Top gifts to make everyone happy this spring, Surprise your mom with one of these Mothers Day, Mothers Day inspo: This foot massager has 20,000, Drew Barrymores Walmart collection is perfect for, Best Mothers Day gifts for the budding plant mom, Best Mothers Day Gifts for moms obsessed with books, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. He received his undergraduate degree from Brown University and his master's degree and PhD from Princeton University (co-supervised by Diarmaid MacCulloch). At the preliminary hearing, Hernandez coworker, Daniel Romero, gave testimony regarding photos recovered from the dispensarys surveillance camera. Hernandezwent missing after finishing work at a marijuana dispensary on September 22, Shortly after Hernandez was reported missing, someone tried to extort his family in exchange for his safe return, but police said it was a hoax. Didier described Peng as a bad egg.. [2] She is one of only four female Irish saints for whom Latin Lives exist. Hernndez, a student at El Camino College, was reported missing by family on the night of Sept. 22. When she sees one, she pulls over and takes it down. Another caller said he might have been at 4th and San Pedro. 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. 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. 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. 2 charged in killing of SoCal marijuana dispensary worker. And she led him to his death. Your email address will not be published. She said her son hadnt called or texted family or friends, something that was out of character for him. Others, suffering from mental illness or addiction, slipped away from family and joined the growing ranks of homeless people living on city streets. His mother had put up thousands of fliers in hopes of finding her son and subsequently fielded multiple calls for ransom, The Times reported. A man and woman in their 20s were arrested Thursday on suspicion of killing a 21-year-old man whose remains were found in the Barstow area nearly two months after he went missing in South Los Angeles. 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. I'm a nanny and these two simple steps will guarantee your child sleeps for a full 12 hours every night. Yajaira Hernandez also shared her perspective on crimes like this. Others, suffering from mental illness or addiction, slipped away from. 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. Hernndezs mother knew in her gut something wasnt right when her son didnt return from his job at a marijuana dispensary. Deputies from the San Bernardino County Sheriffs Department also assisted. The Bank Holiday excitement is a bit too much for some! Your email address will not be published. No comments have so far been submitted. A GoFundMe started to help the family with expenses has raised $26,418 of its $30,000 goal as of Tuesday. Astaphan, of San Gabriel, faces one count of murder. Ethan Astaphan and Sonita Heng were booked at LAPD jail Thursday night and are currently being held on $10 million bail. They seized its security camera system and discovered that E had lied to Hernndez. The vehicle drove off down an alley. L.A. has a new answer, Epic snowpack upends rhythms of life for many species in Sierra Nevada range, Decades of failures leave L.A. County facing up to $3 billion in sex abuse claims, Most California colleges dont offer rape kits on campus. 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. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Copyright 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. 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. Her sons 22nd birthday came and went. Authorities have not commented on whether the suspects knew the victim, nor have they revealed a possible motive in the case. Feast. It was heartbreaking to come home every time shattered, empty-handed, without my son, she said. You can find out more and change our default settings with Cookies Settings. People soon called and texted, claiming they had kidnapped her son and demanding a ransom for his return. Hernandez' family reported him missing on the night of September 22,. Detectives suspected there was more footage on the dispensarys cameras that the LAPD technicians werent able to recover. The trial of the accused in the killing of El Camino College student Juan Carlos Hernandez is expected to commence on Sept. 6. 1998 - 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved. Her attorney declined to answer questions. Astaphan and Heng, the two people detained in connection . One read, I want you to act like Juan was your son.. She still sees the fliers when she drives through Los Angeles. The detectives were confident the ransom demands were coming from opportunists who had nothing to do with the disappearance. The body of Juan Carlos Hernndez, 21, was discovered in a shallow grave dug off Interstate 15 in San Bernardino County. Sonita Heng, 20, who is charged with being an accessory after the fact, also entered a not guilty plea. Both were booked on suspicion of murder. 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. Carnage outside the nightclubs of Britain with Bank holiday treat! Im sorry if Im overwhelming anyone with my videos, posts or anything, she wrote on Instagram. Her sons remains had been found at the foot of an embankment off the side of a desert road. He thought someone was robbing the dispensary and perhaps stealing its safe, but he didnt hear the sound of metal scraping against asphalt. This is him. Four days later, investigators arrested Ethan Astaphan, 27, and Sonita Heng, 20, on suspicion of Hernndez's murder, according to the release. MyNewsLA.com wont sell your information and you can unsubscribe at any time. 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. Hernndez went that afternoon to VIP Collective LA, the dispensary where for the last six months her son had worked under the table as a budtender. She had worried about his safety when he took the job, but his wages helped pay his tuition. His lawyer didnt return messages requesting comment. 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. I wish I could do more. 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. Heng, 22, has accepted a plea deal for her role in the murder of Hernandez son. 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.

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