Murder of a 14 Year Old Girl Being Investigated
When a child is taken or runs away from home, you can’t help but imagine the worse. For one set of parents, they might be closer to having some answers about what happened to their little girl. Even if they are horribly sad, answers.
Police are investigating the murder of a fourteen year old girl. They think that maybe the case might be linked to a case where a twelve year old girl might have ran away from home.
On Wednesday morning, the San Diego Police Lt. Mike Hastings, stated that the body of a Anna Hernandez was found in a canyon, just off the 2900 block of Market Street on November 18th. Even though they found her on the 18th, they weren’t able to positively identify the girl until November 23rd.
According to the report, the young girl’s body was badly decomposed. The San Diego Medical Examiner’s autopsy proved that she sadly suffered from at least one gunshot wound to her upper body. Who in the world would want to shoot a fourteen year old little girl?!
Lt. Hasting’s Statement About the Murder:
Regarding Anna’s homicide, the investigation continues including the processing of many items of evidence. The homicide team has served search warrants and conducted many interviews in the last seven days.
Nelly Espinoza who was twelve years old, was a friend of Hernandez. She lives in an apartment complex close to where Hernandez’s body was found. Nelly was last seen on November 13th. According to the police, the young girl isn’t considered a missing person, but a juvenile runaway.
The San Diego police recieved information that Nelly was with a family member in Northern Mexico She reportedly talked to her family, who live in San Diego, by phone. She told them that if they tried to look for her, then she would go deeper into Mexico.
Lt. Hastings said that Nelly could be with the sixteen year old runaway Janeth Mendoza. Janeth was last seen in October of this year. Both Tijuana and the San Diego police have put out missing persons fliers and are doing what they can to get to the bottom of this.
Lt. Hastings did not confirm if the investigating officers think that there is a link between Hernandez’s murder and Nelly Espinoza.
Hernandez recently transferred to the San Diego High School from High Tech High. Police have not released a possible motive in her killing. There has also been no arrests at this time. The police are actually keeping quite about the possible suspects as well. Them being minors, I’m sure this case will be hard to handle publicity wise. I’m sure they’ll keep the public and the families updated as new information come in.
Phoenix Manslaughter Lawyer
At the Phoenix based Offices of Criminal Defense Lawyers PLLC, we have defended many clients charged with a violent crime, including murder charges and other high-level violent crimes. We can provide the strong defense you need if you have been charged with voluntary manslaughter or involuntary manslaughter.
If you discovered your spouse in bed with a lover and as a result killed your spouse in a sudden rage, you may have been charged with first-degree murder. However, you may only be guilty of voluntary manslaughter, an offense that carries a maximum prison sentence of 11 years, as opposed to a life sentence.
Manslaughter is defined as the unlawful killing of a human being without malice. The term malice is used in a highly technical sense and does not simply imply a feeling of anger.
Types of Manslaughter Defenses
If you have been charged with murder and the evidence is stacked against you to show that you did unlawfully kill another person, seeking a conviction to the lesser charge of voluntary manslaughter may make a significant difference in your case.
To effectively raise such a defense, you must be able to establish that you were provoked, that a reasonable person in such a situation might be similarly provoked to kill, and that you did not have sufficient time to cool off and further contemplate your actions. If retained as your counsel, we will thoroughly investigate the facts of your case to determine which defense strategy gives you the best opportunity to protect your freedom.
Types of Manslaughter Cases in Phoenix
In the state of Arizona, you may be charged with involuntary manslaughter under two separate circumstances:
- If you committed a crime (other than a felony) and unintentionally caused the
death of another person.
- If you were engaged in a lawful act that might cause death and acted without
“due caution and circumspection.”
Manslaughter Conviction and Sentencing
A conviction for involuntary manslaughter carries a maximum sentence of four years imprisonment. If you caused the unintentional death of another person and you were not committing a crime, it is not sufficient for the prosecution to allege that you made a mistake. The phrase “without due cause and circumspection” implies something more than a simple mistake. Our Phoenix Attorneys can raise a number of issues and defenses on your behalf to raise the strong defense you need. A plea to a lesser offense or a plea that allows you to avoid a criminal conviction may be possible depending on the facts of your case. If you choose to fight your charges at trial, we have the skilled trial lawyers to aggressively defend your rights in the courtroom.
Schedule a Free Consultation – Phoenix Manslaughter Lawyer
If you or someone you know has been accused of a Violent Crime such as Manslaughter, contact a Phoenix Criminal Defense Lawyer Today to Schedule a Free Consultation. With a wealth of expertise, a commitment to integrity and a passion for defense, the Attorneys at Criminal Defense Lawyers PLLC – Phoenix Criminal Defense Lawyers – are here to support you with your case. We believe every defendant has the right to a solid defense. Call us today for a free initial consultation at 480-351-6445.
Criminal Defense Lawyers PLLC
668 N 44th St. Suite 300
Phoenix, AZ 85008
(480) 351-6445
https://www.criminaldefenselawyers.me