King County prosecutors continue to work to extradite Louie Hernandez — the suspect in the murder of a Renton hair salon owner — from Mexico.
The 61-year-old Louie Hernandez, a Renton man, faces a charge of murder in the first degree in what Renton police have described as a “domestic violence crime” for the death of 54-year-old Reyna Hernandez, a trans-woman who lived in Renton and ran a small business in the city named Reyna’s Hair Salon.
Renton investigators contacted Mexican authorities on March 8 and confirmed Reyna Hernandez was found deceased in Mexicali, Mexico, six weeks after her friends initially reported her as missing on Feb. 28.
Reyna Hernandez died as a result of a gunshot wound to the head, according to the King County Medical Examiner’s Office.
Louie Hernandez remains in the custody of Mexican law enforcement officials, after authorities in Mexico arrested the 61-year-old on unrelated charges.
King County prosecutors continue to work with the U.S. Department of Justice on the extradition process, according to Douglas Wagoner, a spokesperson for the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office. The process involves international coordination across multiple governmental agencies.
“Extradition can be a lengthy process,” Wagoner stated in his email. “We will continue to work with our [Department of Justice] counterparts to help facilitate extradition and secure his presence in our jurisdiction to face these charges.”
The Renton Police Department’s investigation into Reyna Hernandez’s death also continues. Renton police continue to make efforts to retrieve Reyna Hernandez’s vehicle from Mexico for evidence processing, according to Meeghan Black, a spokesperson for the Renton Police Department.
“We have gathered all the pertinent evidence here locally and are just waiting for Mexican authorities to release what they have there. It’s a long process,” Black stated in her email.
Authorities have set Louie Hernandez’s bail at $5 million, with an active warrant for his arrest issued on May 2.
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