Who is Erica Hernandez? Houston mom-of-three, 40, missing after leaving for friend's house as FBI joins search
HOUSTON, TEXAS: The family of a 40-year-old Houston mom-of-three who has been missing since April 17 is asking for help, to find the woman. One local group is now offering a $1,000 reward to help find answers about what happened to her. The FBI has also joined the Houston Police Department and volunteers in the search for the woman.
According to her brother, Rafael Hernandez, had spent the day cooking pupusas at a friend's house in the 6000 Block of Benning Drive in southwest Houston. After Erica dropped some off at Rafael's, he says, she took her children home. Rafael says the kids were tired and Erica still planned to drop off food at another friend's home on Benning Drive in Southwest Houston.
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Rafael stated that Erica left there and later texted her friend. "The last text message she had received was [Erica] saying that she was 5 minutes away from home," recalled Rafael. But she never came home.
According to the Houston Police, someone known to Erica last saw her near the Fort Bend Parkway Tollway and FM 2234. She was driving a black 2020 GMC Acadia with license plate number MKJ 3303. Texas Equusearch has been on the ground in southwest Houston hunting for her vehicle. Police believe the mother-of-three could be anywhere as her SUV is also missing. "If the community can just keep their eyes out for this vehicle. It's a 2020 black GMC Acadia with an Aggie decal on the back of the vehicle," said Angelina Farris with Equusearch. "If we find that car, we can hopefully find Erica Hernandez, as well."
"We called the hospitals, we asked for her name and asked for Jane Doe's nothing," said Eldia Hernandez, Erica's sister-in-law. "We're all frustrated. We're all in disbelief because this is not like her. This is not her routine. Her kids are her world, and she would never ever leave her kids." Eldia also shared doorbell camera video that shows Erica leaving their home on the day she went missing. In the video, Erica is wearing jeans, an aqua blue shirt, and her hair was pulled back. Eldia Hernandez said Erica was dropping off food at the house while her three children, ages 19, 15 and 3 years old, waited in the car.
"She was fine. I mean, she was happy," Eldia said, describing Erica the last time she saw her. "She was a little tired, but that was about it."
On Friday, April 23, the Hernandez family and Equusearch gathered outside the Mickey Leland Federal Building to call on Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee to add her voice to their calls to find Erica. Lee told media that the search is expanding to a larger area and the FBI will provide additional sources.
Houston Police say they are not sure if foul play is involved. Erica's family says they don't know of anyone who would try to hurt her.
Hernandez has waist-length dark brown hair, a nose piercing, glass, and a left shoulder tattoo with three koala bears. She was last seen wearing a teal t-shirt, jeans, and tennis shoes. Anyone with information on her whereabouts is asked to call the Houston Police Department at (832) 394-1840 or call Texas EquuSearch at (281) 309-9500.