September 19, 2002

East Lansing - Another "Cold Case" success was announced today in solving the murder of a Texas woman. The suspect, who was incarcerated in Michigan’s prison system for the past four years, was identified through analysis of a DNA sample taken at time of his release under the new DNA law. The Michigan State Police are working with San Antonio Police Department officials to finalize the extradition of Rodrigo Hernandez, 29 years of age, whose DNA sample, obtained on release from a Michigan prison, matched that of a sample taken from a Texas homicide eight years ago.

San Antonio Police officials had not developed Hernandez as a suspect before Michigan called with the news. Texas and Michigan authorities believe that without the use of DNA and the national CODIS database, a suspect may not have been identified. According to Detective Sergeant Jack VanderWal of the Michigan State Police, Field Detective Division, "I can’t tell you how exciting it is to be able to be part of a successful "cold case" investigation. Once again, DNA has proven its value in helping to identify a suspect in a major violent crime investigation."

In February 1994, a San Antonio, Texas woman was the victim of a homicide after being reported missing from her place of employment. Evidence showed she had been sexually assaulted. Texas authorities entered DNA evidence into the Combined DNA Index System (CODIS), but obtained no matches to their crime scene sample at that time.

San Antonio Police followed up on several leads for the past eight years. Hernandez was paroled this year from the Michigan Department of Corrections after serving over four years for a breaking and entering and assault. Upon Hernandez’s release, and in accordance with Michigan’s new DNA law, a convicted felon DNA sample was obtained and submitted to the Michigan State Police Forensic Laboratory in East Lansing by the Michigan Department of Corrections.

Following analysis, the DNA information was entered into the nationwide CODIS database where it showed a match to evidence collected in the murder case in Texas. Texas authorities were not originally aware of Hernandez as a suspect and had no knowledge that he was in Texas at the time of the murder. Hernandez was subsequently located by MSP detectives and held for Texas officials.

MSP East Lansing Laboratory Director Kathryn Maloney was pleased upon learning of the DNA "hit" from a sample analyzed by her laboratory. According to Maloney, "This is exactly how the system is supposed to work. In this case, the new law along with interagency cooperation between Michigan and Texas resulted in the successful identification of a murder suspect."

Hernandez, a Grand Rapids resident, is awaiting extradition to Texas where he is to face a capital murder charge that carries the death penalty in the state of Texas.

CONTACTS:

Michigan:

D/Sgt. Jack VanderWal, Michigan State Police, Criminal Investigation Division, (616) 647-0805

Texas:

Sgt. Gabe Trevino, San Antonio Police, (210) 207-7484

San Antonio Police web site: http://www.ci.sat.tx.us/sapd/?res=1024&ver=true