Kindergarten teacher found dead in Kearny

Update (02/09/2023): An arrest has been made in the death of Jersey City teacher Luz Hernandez.

Cesar Santana, 36, of Jersey City, was arrested early Friday morning at a motel in Miami, Florida. He is the father of Luz’s three children and her estranged husband.

He is facing a charge of desecrating/concealing human remains but more charges are expected to be filed once he is extradited back to New Jersey.

Police are still searching for 26-year-old Leiner Miranda Lopez, also of Jersey City, who is facing the same charge.

Original story:

Authorities are searching for answers after the death of kindergarten teacher Luz Hernandez has been ruled a homicide.

Teacher Luz Hernandez found dead

Hernandez, 33, was reported missing on Monday. On Thursday her body was found in a shallow grave in Kearny. An autopsy revealed she died of blunt force trauma to the head and compressions to the neck.

Hernandez worked at Beloved Community Charter School. The school closed for the day on Wednesday to allow those who knew her to grieve. There was a growing memorial for the popular teacher, where a 6-year-old student of Hernandez’s left a card that said “I love you.”

Information on her mysterious death

No arrests have been made at this time.

Authorities urge anyone with information to contact the Office of the Hudson County Prosecutor at 201-915-1345 or at http://www.hudsoncountyprosecutorsofficenj.org/homicide-tip/