Julia Hernandez, Harlem Grandmother, Found Murdered In Apartment

The NYPD says a 73-year-old grandmother was found dead in her Harlem apartment Tuesday, her feet bound together and a plastic bag over her head.

Julia Hernandez was apparently suffocated. She was discovered by her daughter in the Wagner Houses apartment on East 120th Street around 7:30 p.m. Tuesday by her daughter.

Hernandez had lived in the building for 50 years.

"Whoever killed her, you're going to get it and we're going to find you," vowed daughter Elaine Hernandez, according to CBS News.

Hernandez believes the grisly crime was all for a flat-screen TV, which was missing from the apartment. Police say some cash and jewelry also appear to have been stolen.

Elaine Hernandez added, “And we’re going to choke you, OK, for what you did to my mother. That’s all I got to say."

Granddaughter Jasminda Otero Hernandez told ABC News of her grandmother,"A beautiful older woman, who was born and raised here. Everyone knew her. Everyone loved her. Everyone knows her. Why would they do this awful thing to her? I hope you enjoy your flat-screen TV. I really do. I hope you enjoy it."

Meanwhile, cops have identified a person of interest. Gregory Velez, 35, is wanted for questioning. He is 6-foot tall and weighs about 180 pounds.

Julia Hernandez apparently called her daughter around 1pm yesterday and said "there was a funny-looking guy in the elevator."

Anyone with any information regarding the incident is asked to call NYPD Crime Stoppers at 1-800-577-TIPS.

Comments

[MissFish]

10:41 PM on 10/26/2011

http://www.dnainfo.com/places/wagner-houses

[mother10]

10:01 PM on 10/26/2011

crack head fool

[eclipse535]

09:35 PM on 10/26/2011

He sure doesn't look like the type.Just kidding.

[jl4141]

10:44 AM on 10/27/2011

fridakahlofan wrote this in response to the next post, but I think it's appropriate to yours, too:

"YOU SHOULD BE ASHAMED OF YOURSELF, the family is grieving the death of their beloved mother, grandmothe­r and sister, and you make a post that has nothing to do with the subject and you think this is funny.
Pathetic little bugger, aren't you.
Shame on you"

[RockyMissouri]

06:43 PM on 10/27/2011

I agree...! There is nothing funny about it...

[intellectualTradition]

08:49 PM on 10/26/2011

where is al sharpton on this issue ? tawanya ?

[mother10]

10:01 PM on 10/26/2011

Stop hating Al you freak ! he is here to stay

[intellectualTradition]

11:40 PM on 10/26/2011

al is a part of the problem for the AA community. not the solution. he is worthy of nothing but mockery and contempt. he is a lackey of the left keeping the AA community in bondage

[fridakahlofan]

03:38 AM on 10/27/2011

YOU SHOULD BE ASHAMED OF YOURSELF, the family is grieving the death of their beloved mother, grandmother and sister, and you make a post that has nothing to do with the subject and you think this is funny.
Pathetic little bugger, aren't you.
Shame on you.

[JFaye]

06:14 PM on 10/26/2011

Such a tragic end to this grandmother's life. No one deserves to die such a horrible way. What is in a man's heart that would permit him to brutally kill anyone, more so an elderly person?

My heart breaks for Mrs. Hernandez's family members, friends and neighbors. Hopefully the perpetrator will soon find himself in the hands of justice and may those hands properly deal with the callousness of his heart.

[emmeaki]

05:30 PM on 10/26/2011

Poor lady. I don't know if I'd have the will to live if I found my mother dead like that.

[bigdaddydubya]

04:50 PM on 10/26/2011

Wow this lady was killed over a flat screen T.V., and the other story where the mother of twelve was shot and killed over a cell phone while protecting a group of children, all in today's news, all in the New York City area. I pray for the families of both these ladies.

[Leon Engelun]

04:38 PM on 10/26/2011

over a big flat screen tv. Wow . You wanna bet the person who took the tv screen does not have cable or satelitte tv? Probably analog.

[mother10]

10:03 PM on 10/26/2011

please straight to the dope man or pawn shop...crack rock or meth

[chloe4455]

05:36 AM on 10/27/2011

he probably sold that tv and used that money for crack

[Lisa Hanock-Jasie]

04:15 PM on 10/26/2011

who says television doesn't cause violence?!? and no, i'm not making a joke.

[SirCoolBreeze]

05:14 AM on 10/27/2011

Good. The post is not funny nor smart. D'oh!

[ifyouseekay]

03:57 PM on 10/26/2011

junkie!!

[mother10]

10:03 PM on 10/26/2011

yep

[Kevin Arthus]

02:25 PM on 10/26/2011

"there was a funny-looking guy in the elevator." = Gregory Velez, 35, is wanted for questioning.

[vcrozas]

04:01 PM on 10/26/2011

I wonder if there could have been a camera in the elevator. They often do that in complexes. Could it be the police reviewed it and found him in the elevator with her and possible he was known as a criminal or drug user. Maybe he had a record and that drew suspicion. He is a person of interest wanted for questioning. That does not mean he has been convicted.

[MissFish]

10:17 PM on 10/26/2011

The photo posted is from the NYPD - not his facebook wall. At the very least he has been arrested in the past and most likely will be again.