Arely Hernandez Bio – Arely Hernandez Wiki
Little Arely Hernandez was found dead on the floor of a small house-based church in San Jose last September with “multiple injuries around her eyes, face, neck, and chest.
AGE:
Arely Hernandez was 3 years old.
DETAIL OF INCIDENCE:
A 3-year-old girl was allegedly tortured and killed by family members during an exorcism ritual, and police have arrested her mother in connection with her death, authorities said.
According to court documents authored by Deputy District Attorney Rebekah Wise and obtained by KRON-TV, investigators believe the toddler died inside a church in San Jose, Calif., last fall.
The little girl’s mother, Claudia Elisa Hernandez, 25, reportedly told police that she grew concerned on Sept. 23, 2021, that her daughter was “possessed” because she would often wake up in the middle of the night crying or screaming, the station reports.
The next morning, Hernandez, the girl’s church leader grandfather, and her uncle drove her to a church, where they allegedly participated in the fatal ritual. The trio of adults reportedly held the toddler down by her neck, torso, and legs for several hours.
They also stuck their fingers and hands down her throat, in an attempt to make her vomit, the outlet reports.
The girl died after the 12-hour-long exorcism, during which she suffered “multiple injuries around her eyes, face, neck, and chest,” according to KRON.” She [Hernandez] strangled her multiple times to the point where the victim went unconscious, she stuck her hands down her throat, and continued this course of conduct for almost a full day,” the prosecutor wrote.
Nearly two hours after her death, the family reportedly called 911. The coroner ruled the toddler’s death a homicide caused by suffocation and smothering, according to the station.
Hernandez was the only person involved in the alleged homicide who was arrested in February, following a bizarre 40-minute long YouTube video in which she reflected on her daughter’s life and death.
“I would always tell her that I loved her and make sure to show her so much love,” Hernandez said.
“It’s so hard now because I went from having her every day to not having her at all,” she added.
“To think that I’m not gonna see her grow up like how I thought I was gonna see her grow up … but you know, it’s okay because I know she’s in a better place. God knows why he allows these things,” said Hernandez.
“I could sit here and be negative about the things and be like, ‘I wish I could go back and this and that,’ but it’s like, there is no point in me doing that because I cannot change what is.” She added, “It is what it is.”
“I’ve learned to think positive. It’s many reasons why God took her,” Hernandez said.
Citing court documents, the station reports the prosecution urged the judge to deny Hernandez bail.
“She was born in El Salvador, has minimal ties to the community, and is considered a high flight risk,” Wise wrote.
According to court records, Hernandez has been appointed a public defender. She remains in jail, where she faces charges of felony assault on a child with force likely to produce great bodily injury. Her next court date is June 13.