Sonita Heng, 22, identified the third man in the photo as Weijia Peng, her boyfriend and owner of the V.I.P. 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. The hearings of two suspects accused of murdering an El Camino College student were postponed until Sept. 21 for unknown reasons. Cops said Hernandez was the victim of a homicide. It. Father dies eight days after getting stuck in indoor cave at tourist attraction: Tragedy at climbing wall as Did the King gift the late Queen's dresser Angela Kelly a house in bid to stop another royal memoir? Published: 21:42 BST, 24 November 2020 | Updated: 21:56 BST, 24 November 2020. Pengs then girlfriend, 22-year-old Sonita Heng, is accused of being an accomplice. or debate this issue live on our message boards. On Sept. 22, 2020, 21-year-old El Camino College engineering student Juan Carlos Hernandez left from his home on Adams Blvd. Thanks for contacting us. It wasnt just that you murdered our loved ones. Peng fled to Turkey where he has been detained and is fighting extradition. Before joining The Times in 2018, he covered city news and state politics at the Hartford Courant. Your Privacy Choices: Opt Out of Sale/Targeted Ads, Your Privacy Choices/(Opt-Out of Sale/Targeted Ads). document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Copyright 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. 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. A man and a woman have been charged with the killing of a 21-year-old Los Angeles marijuana dispensary worker whose body was found in a shallow grave in the Mojave Desert nearly two months after his disappearance. 33.9K followers. He also said he didnt want the police to get involved. Wed been trying to talk to Ethan about this boy, she said, adding that Astaphan and Peng moved to California about two years ago. At the preliminary hearing, Hernandez coworker, Daniel Romero, gave testimony regarding photos recovered from the dispensarys surveillance camera. A trial provided details into the killing of 16-year-old Brayan Andino but could not explain what a prosecutor called a culture of death.. Many were found or reappeared when they were ready. Also gone, she realized with mounting alarm, was her gray Honda Civic, which her son had driven the previous day to his job at a marijuana dispensary in South Los Angeles. [4] Fashion Model. On Tuesday, May 3, Hernandez went to Clara Shortridge Foltz Courthouse for a hearing in the case of The People of Calif. vs. Sonita Heng. If the police know why she came back, they didnt explain it in their warrants. Judge Lynn Hobbs presided over the hearing in Department 117. 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. Whoops! 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. Please look at the time stamp on the story to see when it was last updated. . 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. It. . The detectives were confident the ransom demands were coming from opportunists who had nothing to do with the disappearance. Heng has pleaded no contest to accessory after the fact. It wasn't clear if they had attorneys to speak for them. Astaphan's defendant, 20-year-old. They only think for themselves, because thats what that moment was, that moment of rage where they are thinking of their needs, their wants, their desires and not thinking of how that action will impact not only that person, but their whole family and community.. Astaphan and Heng are being held on a $10 million bond, according to online jail records. Juan Carlos Hernandez, a 21-year-old college student from South Los Angeles, disappeared on Sept. 22 and his body was found nearly two months later in a remote area between Barstow and Baker. Sign up here for our free newsletters. He never returned home. Invasion of the super rats: '300 million super-rodents' that survive off takeaway scraps and evade poisons Police fraud investigation into SNP 'probing whereabouts of 400,000 bequeathed in people's wills'. A $300-million (minimum) gondola to Dodger Stadium? Leading Jewish organisation demands urgent meeting with The Guardian's editor after newspaper is engulfed by STEPHEN POLLARD: It's often the self-proclaimed anti-racists who are the foulest of the lot. "This isn't the outcome we ever wanted or thought we'd get," Hernndez's mother, Yajaira Hernndez, told the Times on Thursday. They were troubled by the fact that someone had tried to remotely access his account on a stock-trading app three days after he disappeared. Sonita Heng, 20, of Harbor City, who is charged with being an accessory after the fact, also entered a not guilty plea. Digital Original: Juan Carlos Hernndez's remains were found by authorities in a "shallow" grave east on Nov. 15, according to the LAPD. Detectives arrested two people Thursday in connection with Hernndez's death, Ethan Astaphan, 27, and Sonita Heng, 20, according to the LAPD. As word of his disappearance spread, Hernndez was getting calls at all hours from people who thought theyd seen him. Following the disappearance, the family started a GoFundMe page to help cover expenses as family and friends took unpaid leave to assist in the search. . 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! They brought the recording system to a computer forensics specialist in the Glendale Police Department. The search would take her to homeless encampments on skid row, to the steps of City Hall in protest, to remote corners of Southern California and to the dark underbelly of the citys marijuana industry. Sonita Heng, 20, of Harbor City, who is charged with being an accessory after the fact, also entered a not guilty plea. He received his undergraduate degree from Brown University and his master's degree and PhD from Princeton University (co-supervised by Diarmaid MacCulloch). Hernandez, a student at El Camino College in Torrance, was last seen alive on Sept. 22 in the 8100 block of South Western Avenue. Rallies Planned to Mark May Day in Downtown, Little Tokyo, Boyle Heights, Vehicle Hits Pole in Mid-Wilshire Area; Man Killed, One Person Killed in Fiery Hacienda Heights Crash, JPMorgan Chase Bank Agrees to Purchase First Republic Bank, Police Arrest 24 During DUI Checkpoint in Riverside, Coroner IDs Man Who Jumped or Fell From Freeway Overpass. SAC, Top 5 Things to try at Caf Camino and El Cappuccino, El Camino to hold emergency evacuation drill, Turnout shy in student government election, Meta-Majors Center aims to connect majors, services, clubs, El Caminos Eid al-Fitr prayer leaves feelings of unity and disappointment, Warriors beach volleyball team scores back-to-back wins to finish regular season, Student Health Services offer weekly mental health workshops, The student news site of El Camino College, Hearings of two individuals connected to ECC students death are postponed. 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. THE BREEZE WILL PICK UP TODAY BUT YOU WILL SEE TEMPERATURES PRETTY SIMILAR TO YESTERDAY. He made no effort to intervene, but rather walked to the back of the dispensary, closed the door, then returned to continue watching. Hernndez, a student at El Camino College, was. Both were ordered to return to court Dec. 1, when a date is expected to be set for a preliminary hearing to determine whether there is sufficient evidence to proceed to trial. Copyright 2023 NBCUniversal Media, LLC. Ethan & Evan. Co-defendant Sonita Heng (dob 5/10/00) of Harbor City faces one count of accessory after the fact. Her gut told her something was wrong. Two people have been arrested and charged in connection to the killing of Juan Carlos Hernandez in Los Angeles. Many were found or reappeared when they were ready. AT SOME POINT A SHOT WAS FIRED FROM DEPUTIES. Kim McGill | The Union. Peng could not be reached for comment. She blanketed Instagram, Twitter, TikTok and Reddit with her sons story, signing off each post with the hashtag #helpmefindjuan. Ethan Kedar Astaphan, 27, and Sonita Heng, 20, were both charged in the Sept. 22, 2020 death of 21-year-old El Camino College student Juan Carlos Hernndez, a news release by the District Attorneys office read. At the time of his disappearance, Hernandez, known to his loved ones as 'Cookie,' was preparing to transfer to the University of Southern California to pursue an engineering degree. "I knew there was a. Booking photos werent immediately released. Peng was apprehended last week in Istanbul and is being held pending extradition to Los Angeles on a murder charge. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Check for a confirmation email, and then you're all set with MyNewsLA.com! Astaphan and Heng were arrested on . VIP Collective LA had no utilities and was powered by a generator. FIRST. 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. His mother had put up thousands of fliers in hopes of finding her son and subsequently fielded multiple calls for ransom, The Times reported. 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. We've received your submission. EDITORS NOTE: Title was fixed for clarity Sept. 13. The weeks slid by. They were being held on $10 million bail each. Sonita Heng, 20, of Harbor City,. She died on 19 December [3] 739. I'm a nanny and these two simple steps will guarantee your child sleeps for a full 12 hours every night. 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. 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. A missing persons flier for Juan Carlos Hernndez, is posted across the street from the marijuana dispensary in South Los Angeles where he worked and was last seen. 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. 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. 2 charged in killing of SoCal marijuana dispensary worker. 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. Heng faces three years in prison. Heng faces three years in prison.Authorities haven't released a possible motive or other details about the killing. 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. TO OFFICERS HAVE MINOR INJURIES. They were being held on $10million bail each. One read, I want you to act like Juan was your son.. Yajaira Hernndez told the Times her son was set to transfer to the University of Southern California to study engineering and that he was very protective of her. Her car had been sitting empty, engine running, for hours. The circumstances of his capture were unclear, said Deputy Dist. The cameras did record. How Palm Springs ran out Black and Latino families to build a fantasy for rich, white people, 17 SoCal hiking trails that are blooming with wildflowers (but probably not for long! Both were booked on suspicion of murder. It is unclear if they have obtained legal representation who can speak on their behalf or if they entered a plea at this time. The locations of the homes were not immediately available. This location, Heng said, was where Astaphan and Peng left Hernandez body. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information, She was his best friend. 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. 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. HE PULLED OUT A GUN, THROUGH IT INTO THE BUSHES AND RAN. Juan Hernandez, 21, was reporting missing by his family Sept. 22 after not returning home from work. 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. Heng also testified at the preliminary hearing that Astaphan and Peng dragged Hernandez body from the back of the dispensary into an SUV and injected him with Ketamine as she drove to a desolate section of the Mojave Desert near Akton, California. Ethan Astaphan, 27, and Sonita Heng, 20, are in custody on suspicion of murdering a community college student who went missing in L.A. and was found dead in a shallow desert grave. This is an archived article and the information in the article may be outdated. Working off an anonymous tip submitted to a police hotline, the detectives identified the man in the video as Ethan Kedar Astaphan, a bodyguard for the dispensary's owner, Weijia Peng, who went. The cause of death was not released, but police said he appeared to be the victim of a homicide.. Why is Frank McCourt really pushing it? 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. Astaphan will have a preliminary setting/resetting hearing and Heng will have a probation and sentence hearing, according to the LA courts case calendar. WHEN THE SHOT WAS JUST HALF A DOSE, THAT GREW TO 90%. Four days later, investigators arrested Ethan Astaphan, 27, and Sonita Heng, 20, on suspicion of Hernndez's murder, according to the release. Carnage outside the nightclubs of Britain with Bank holiday treat! No comments have so far been submitted. Astaphan's defendant, 20-year-old Sonita Heng, has been charged with one count of accessory after the fact, officials said. The caller identified himself as E, the owner of the dispensary. ), At Willie Nelson 90, country, rock and rap stars pay tribute, but Willie and Trigger steal the show, Concertgoer lets out a loud full body orgasm while L.A. Phil plays Tchaikovskys 5th, Plaschke: Lakers live up to their legacy with a close-out win for the ages, L.A. Affairs: I had my reasons for not dating white men. Astaphan faces up to 25 years to life in state prison if convicted. Students demand better access to care. (Kim McGill | The Union). 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. in South Central Los Angeles. 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. 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 . They are scheduled to be arraigned Monday. Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Interactive map shows how average age of nation varies by region as Mobsters burned alive, public stonings, gang-rape, ransom demands and political assassinations: How violence Mystery of Gina Lollobrigida's missing 9 million: Battle for Italian sex symbol's fortune takes a new twist 2 charged after body of missing college student from South L.A. found buried in Mojave Desert, Missing community college student found in shallow grave near Barstow - Los Angeles Times. A San Gabriel man was charged Monday with murdering a 21-year-old community college student whose remains were found in a remote area of the Mojave Desert nearly two months after he went missing in South Los Angeles. A motive remains unknown. Arraignment is scheduled today in Department 30 of the Foltz Criminal Justice Center. Working off an anonymous tip submitted to a police hotline, the detectives identified the man in the video as Ethan Kedar Astaphan, a bodyguard for the dispensarys owner, Weijia Peng, who went by James and Jay. Technicians at the LAPDs lab went to work on the cameras and realized someone had tampered with them. She is testifying against Astaphan as part of a plea deal. Her attorney declined to answer questions. Two suspects have been arrested in the murder of a missing college student who was found in a shallow grave near a highway in California, authorities said Friday. . And she led him to his death. Others, suffering from mental illness or addiction, slipped away from. Well send you the latest headlines every morning and every weekday afternoon. 2,066 posts. All three of the small, shabby storefronts were unlicensed and operating illegally, a detective wrote in an affidavit. Cluain-Bronach in Meath. Hernndez and other family members checked out every tip, sometimes getting up in the middle of the night to head to skid row. Your email address will not be published. One person said a young man who looked like him was at 7th and Hill streets, talking to himself. Didier described Peng as a bad egg.. . Why not be the first to send us your thoughts, You altered our future forever.. 615 following. There was an error and we couldn't process your subscription. Matthew Ormseth is a reporter for the Los Angeles Times. Ethan Astaphan, 27, and Sonita Heng, 20, were arrested in Hernndez's murder . All rights reserved, Man Who Vanished From South LA in September Found Dead, 2 Under Arrest, California Home Pot Delivery Can Still Continue For Now, Marijuana Can Be Harmful for Heart Patients, But Improves Some Risk Factors, Studies Show, 25-Year-Old Makes $200/Hour Without a Bachelor's Degree: I Work Less Than 6 Hours a Day', Post-Prom Fight in Palmdale Ends in Gunfire, How SNL Star Ego Nwodim Brought Lisa From Temecula' to Life, Man Who Lost Wife and Son in Texas Mass Shooting Tells His Story. 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. DEIRDRE: ASTRAZENECA AT THE UNIVERSITY OF OXFORD SAY LARGE-SCALE TRIALS OF THE VACCINE IS HIGHLY EFFECTIVE. If convicted as charged, Astaphan faces a possible maximum sentence of 25 years to life in state prison. Yajaira Hernandez holds a photo of her son, El Camino College student Juan Hernandez, 21, at the #SurvivorsSpeak rally in Sacramento on Tuesday, April 26. They were booked for allegedly killing 21-year-old Juan Hernndez. 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 of Juan Carlos. They managed to extract a video file someone had tried to destroy. During the warrants, Astaphan and Heng were arrested for suspicion of murder, police said. He was always very attentive, careful always supporting me in whatever I needed, she said. 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. IT HAS A 70% EFFECTIVE RATE. Hernandez body was found on Nov. 15, 2020, using cell tower evidence to track the route taken to the Mojave desert. Around 2:30 the next morning, some prostitutes working on Figueroa Street flagged down two LAPD officers and pointed out a Honda Civic idling near the corner of 64th Street, according to a search warrant affidavit and what police told Hernndez. Do not sell or share my personal information. Both were booked on suspicion of murder, but the latter has not been charged with that crime. 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. 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. Meanwhile, Heng faces a three-year prison sentence. WE WILL TRACK THAT COMING UP. She still sees the fliers when she drives through Los Angeles. DEIRDRE: I AM DEIRDRE FITZPATRICK. Peoples heard the hatch of the vehicle fall open, then grunting noises men make when they are carrying something heavy. Sign up for PEOPLE's free True Crime newsletter for breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases. According to court records, Astaphan continues to be held on a $10 million bail, while Heng was released on her own recognizance in January. The cause of death was not released, but police said he "appeared to be the victim of a homicide.". 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. This isnt the outcome we ever wanted or thought wed get, the distraught mother told the Times. 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. 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. She printed fliers with her sons photo and, with the help of family, posted them in the neighborhood around the dispensary. 'This isnt the outcome we ever wanted or thought wed get, but I still feel blessed that we found his body,'Yajaira Hernandes said. When she wants to be near him, she goes to Holy Cross Cemetery in Culver City. 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. Others, suffering from mental illness or addiction, slipped away from family and joined the growing ranks of homeless people living on city streets. He saw headlights and heard someone call out, Turn around. But his absence is a hole she does not expect ever to fill. In my case, so my sons death wouldnt be in vain, I would force them to take classes to understand how to become better, so they can realize firsthand the damage they did to us and understand the severity. @britishvogue @buzzfeed & ! 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. She taped her sons face on thousands of bus stops and light posts. THE TEEN WAS NOT HURT. Hernndezs family began picketing outside LAPD headquarters and City Hall to let them see that were not giving up, that were not going anywhere, she said. 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. Ethan Astaphan and Sonita Heng were booked at LAPD jail Thursday night and are currently being held on $10 million bail. The lots gate was sliding open. Hernandez attended El Camino College in Torrance and was set to transfer to the University of Southern California and study engineering, according to the Los Angeles Times. Hes a great kid, smart, kind, great personality, always helpful, his mother, Yajaira Hernandez, told KTLA a few days after his disappearance. The defendants are each being held on $10 million bail, according to jail records. WE ARE TRACKING A LITTLE BIT OF FOG. 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!' Sonita Heng, 20, of Harbor City, who is charged with being an accessory after the fact, also entered a not guilty plea. FBI agents alerted them that two weeks earlier, Peng and Heng had purchased same-day tickets to Istanbul, Turkey, by way of Paris and boarded their flight carrying $9,500 in cash. 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. November 19, 2020 / 8:04 PM Among hundreds of cases being heard on Feb. 28 is the preliminary hearing of Ethan Kedar Astaphan who is accused of killing 21-year-old ECC engineering student Juan Hernandez. Balian declined to discuss a potential motive for the killing. Shivering in her jail cell and huddled with fellow prisoners for warmth, Ahn Ei Sook (later known by her married name, Esther Ahn Kim) heard moaning from a nearby cell. MyNewsLA.com wont sell your information and you can unsubscribe at any time.
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