Reyna Hernandez was a beloved hairdresser and business owner described by friends and family as a "spark" with a "vibrant spirit." A 54-year-old Latina transgender woman, she had moved to the United States from her native Mexico at age 19 to pursue her dreams. She achieved that goal by opening Reyna’s Hair Salon in Renton, Washington, where she became a cherished community figure. A close friend noted that clients came not just for a haircut, but to have their "emotions and heart" fixed.
Her sister remembered her as a happy, loving, and hardworking dreamer.
On February 26, 2024, Reyna Hernandez left her home to run errands and was never seen alive again. Concern grew when she failed to open her salon, and friends reported her missing on February 28. Investigators with the Renton Police Department immediately suspected foul play, believing she had been taken against her will. The search ended tragically on March 2, when her body was discovered in a cemetery in Mexicali, Mexico, over 1,300 miles from her home. Her body was wrapped in a blanket, and authorities said she showed signs of having been tortured. An autopsy performed by the King County Medical Examiner’s Office later confirmed she died from a gunshot wound to the head.
The investigation quickly focused on her former romantic partner, 61-year-old Louie Hernandez, who friends knew as Alex. According to court documents, authorities allege that Reyna went to his Renton home on February 26, where he shot her within minutes of her arrival. Investigators believe he then used a winch from his son's Jeep to drag her body into her own vehicle and drove across the border into Mexico. Evidence at the cemetery, including tire tracks, suggested he tied a rope from her ankle to a tree and drove away, pulling her body from the car.
Shortly after Reyna’s body was found, Mexican law enforcement arrested Louie Hernandez on unrelated charges. He was found driving Reyna's vehicle and was in possession of fentanyl, ammunition, and a large amount of cash. He was soon named the primary suspect in her murder. In May 2024, the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office charged him with first-degree murder.
Authorities have described the case as a domestic violence crime, and friends reported that Reyna had a black eye in the week before she disappeared. After being held in Mexico for a year, Louie Hernandez was extradited to Washington to face trial. As of March 2025, he was being held in the King County jail on a $5 million bail while awaiting trial.
