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Update: The Man Who Killed Trans Woman Chynaa Carrillo Served Eight Years for Murdering His 20-Year-Old Cisgender Wife
On Thursday, February 18, a 24-year-old trans Latina was brutally murdered in New Wilmington, a small town in rural Western Pennsylvania. Her name was Chynaa Carrillo.
The man who murdered her, Juan Carlos Hernandez, was 30 years old. He appears to have been a native of Ohio and recently returned there.
From prison. He was in prison for eight years (2013–2021) for murdering his 20-year-old wife in 2010 while they lived in North Carolina.
He served eight years for murdering his wife. He was released and he killed another woman, Chynaa.
His wife was named Kandace Johnston Hernandez. Her mother and other family members reached out to law enforcement and local media after learning about Chynaa’s fate. From the WNCT:
WNCT reported back then that police had been called to their home several times for domestic disputes.
“Kandace was on the phone with my husband six minutes before she was killed, wanting a bus ticket home,”(Tammy) Larew said.
In July 2011, Hernandez killed Kandace in their home. In court, he pleaded guilty to second degree murder and claimed he reacted in self defense.