A teenage father has been charged with the brutal murder and dismemberment of his ex-girlfriend, the mother of his child, before allegedly concocting a warped lie to cover his tracks, according to prosecutors in a harrowing domestic violence case.
Horrific Discovery in Shared Home
Luis Antonio Mendez Hernandez, aged 19, was taken into custody last month after police made a gruesome discovery at the residence he shared with his partner in Colorado. Officers found the body of Griselda Amarilis Lopez-Racancoj, aged 20, dismembered and concealed in white bin bags, reportedly "stuffed" under the couple's bed.
Investigators recovered a six-inch steak knife from Hernandez's wardrobe, which was covered in blood, as detailed in an affidavit obtained by local media. Additionally, pillows were discovered with blood patterns consistent with being "held to a person's face," suggesting a violent struggle.
Breakup and Suspicious Behaviour
Residents informed authorities that Lopez-Racancoj had ended her relationship with Hernandez just two days before her body was found. One roommate noted that after the couple argued on the evening of December 27, she had not seen the victim again.
On the morning of December 29, the same resident observed visible scratch marks on Hernandez's neck and chest. Another roommate reported receiving "strange" text messages from Hernandez on December 28, in which he suddenly claimed his girlfriend was suicidal, yet refused to disclose her whereabouts when confronted.
Fabricated Suicide Story
When questioned by detectives, Hernandez provided a detailed but implausible account. He stated that he returned home from work around 11pm on December 29, showered, and got into bed with Lopez-Racancoj, who he claimed was already asleep.
Hernandez alleged he woke at 3am to feed their crying child, then returned to bed and found his girlfriend cold and "obviously deceased." He explained his failure to call emergency services was due to "shock" and fear of being blamed, even suggesting she might have killed herself due to harassment from another man.
However, Hernandez refused to discuss any potential injuries she may have suffered and asserted the scratches on his body were self-inflicted. Instead of alerting authorities, he admitted to wrapping the body in a blanket, hiding it under the bed, and conducting Google searches on how to dispose of a human body.
Legal Charges and Incarceration
Hernandez now faces severe legal consequences, charged with three counts of murder and one count of tampering with a deceased human body. The specific charges include first-degree murder after deliberation, first-degree murder with extreme indifference, and second-degree murder.
He is currently detained at Summit County Jail on a substantial $5 million bond, equivalent to approximately £3.6 million, as the investigation continues to unfold.
For confidential support, call the 24-hour National Domestic Abuse Freephone Helpline on 0808 2000 247 or visit womensaid.co.uk. If you or your family have lost a friend or family member through fatal domestic abuse, AAFDA (Advocacy After Fatal Domestic Abuse) can offer specialist and expert support and advocacy. For more info visit www.aafda.org.uk.
For emotional support you can call the Samaritans 24-hour helpline on 116 123, email jo@samaritans.org, visit a Samaritans branch in person or go to the Samaritans website.
