On February 18, 2014, the bodies of Onelia Canales, her 16-year-old daughter Jennifer Cordero, and her husband of three months, Juan Carlos Hernandez, were discovered in their Hialeah, Florida home. The tragic incident was identified as a double murder-suicide. Authorities reported that Hernandez, 46, shot and killed Canales and Cordero before turning the gun on himself.
The discovery was made after a welfare check was conducted by family members and Hernandez's co-workers, who had not seen the family since the previous Sunday. The bodies were found in the master bedroom of their home at 581 W. 40th Place.
The Hialeah Police Department confirmed that there was no documented history of domestic disturbances or violence involving the family. Neighbors and family members expressed shock and disbelief, describing the couple as good people who had recently moved into the neighborhood. Despite the lack of a clear motive, the incident left the community in mourning and searching for answers. One neighbor recounted hearing the victim's brother screaming in the street about Hernandez recently purchasing a gun, suggesting that the weapon was used to carry out the tragic act.
In the aftermath of the incident, there were no arrests or ongoing investigations, as the case was closed with the determination of a murder-suicide. The police and homicide investigators worked to piece together the events leading up to the deaths, but no further legal actions or litigations were reported. The community continued to grapple with the loss and the senseless nature of the crime, as they remembered Onelia Canales and her daughter Jennifer Cordero.
