Ex arrested, another man wanted for role in death of teacher found in shallow grave

HUDSON COUNTY, N.J. (TCD) -- A 36-year-old Jersey City man has been arrested and another remains on the run in connection with the beating and strangulation death of a teacher whose body was found in a shallow grave earlier this month.

In a statement, the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office announced officials from the U.S. Marshals Service Southern District of Florida located Cesar Santana on Feb. 10 in Miami and arrested him on a charge of desecrating/concealing human remains. He is in custody in Miami-Dade County on a fugitive from justice warrant and will be extradited to New Jersey.

Investigators are still searching for 26-year-old Leiner Miranda Lopez, who is also wanted for desecrating/concealing human remains.

According to the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office, on Feb. 5, police officers conducted a traffic stop on a car Santana and Lopez were driving in and impounded the vehicle. One day after that, Luz Hernandez, the victim, was reported missing to Jersey City Police. On Feb. 7, police discovered her remains in a shallow grave in Kearny.

Evidence taken from the impounded car reportedly helped lead investigators to the burial site at Central Avenue and Third Street.

An autopsy concluded the 33-year-old died from blunt force trauma to the head and compressions to the neck.

According to NJ.com, Santana is the father of Hernandez’s three children and the two had been in a relationship for several years but recently broke up.

Hernandez was a kindergarten teacher at BelovED Charter School.

MORE:

• ONE ARRESTED, ANOTHER SOUGHT IN DEATH INVESTIGATION OF JERSEY CITY WOMAN - Hudson County Prosecutor's Office
• DEATH OF JERSEY CITY WOMAN RULED A HOMICIDE - Hudson County Prosecutor's Office
• Two charged in slaying of Jersey City kindergarten teacher - NJ.com
• Missing kindergarten teacher found dead in shallow grave in New Jersey - TCD