DNA Links Los Angeles Man to 1995 Cold Case Murder NR11378cj

Los Angeles: Detectives from the Cold Case Homicide Special Section of Robbery-Homicide Division, announced the arrest of a Los Angeles man for an unsolved 1995 Los Angeles Murder.

LAPD detectives have been investigating the murder of 33-year-old Los Angeles resident Amilcar Saravia for over 15 years.  Saravia was murdered inside his apartment in the 500 block of South Oxford Avenue on September 26, 1995.  The cause of death was attributed to multiple gunshot wounds.  The motive for the murder is unknown.

Cold Case Homicide detectives linked Hernandez to the murder after DNA evidence matching Hernandez was discovered at the crime scene.  It was later discovered that Hernandez was in custody on an unrelated immigration violation at the Taft Correctional Institution.  Detectives obtained an arrest warrant for Hernandez for the murder of Saravia and the warrant was served upon his release from the immigration violation at the correctional facility.  

On August 15, 2011, at 8:30 a.m., at the request of the LAPD, the LASD took custody of Jose Redani Hernandez on a Los Angeles County murder warrant at the correctional facility on the day of his release for the previous violation.  Hernandez was booked for murder with no bail into the Los Angeles County Jail and will be arraigned on August 16, 2011.

Detectives handling the investigation are Detectives Michael Pelletier and Richard Bengtson, Robbery-Homicide Division, Cold Case Special Section at 213-486-6831 or 213-486-6819.  During non-business hours or on weekends, calls should be directed to 1-877-LAPD-24-7.  Anyone wishing to remain anonymous should call Crimestoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (800-222-8477). Tipsters may also contact Crimestoppers by texting to phone number 274637 (C-R-I-M-E-S on most keypads) with a cell phone.  All text messages should begin with the letters “LAPD.”  Tipsters may also go to LAPDOnline.org, click on "webtips" and follow the prompts.