Full Name: Juan Carlos Hernández

Alternative Name: "Cookie"

Case Status: Deceased

Record ID#: 0215

*The names “Jane Doe”  and “John Doe” are English names used when the person’s true name is not known. If used above, the name refers to a person of unknown identity.

Date of Birth*: October 15, 1998
Birthplace:
Age at the Time: 21
Age Group: 20s
Biological Sex: Male
Hair: Close cut black hair
Eyes: Brown
Skin Complexion:
Shoe Size:
Ethnicity: Hispanic or Latino
Nationality: United States
Languages Spoken:

*If the date says January 1, this is often just a placeholder for an unknown specific date. It usually means “sometime that year”.

Physical Build:

Height:

Weight

Distinguishing Marks:

• Eyeglasses

Medical Condition:
Physical Abnormality:
Dental Condition:
Scars & Other Marks:
Piercings:
Tattoos:

Other Descriptors:

Clothing

• White Shorts
• Vans T-Shirt with White ’66’ on the back
• Black & White Checkered Socks
• Black Van Shoes
• Grey Hoodie

Possessions:

• Grey Backpack
• Red Religious Bracelet

Date of the Disappearance*: September 22, 2020

Description: In the bustling streets of South Los Angeles, a young man with dreams of becoming an electrical engineer vanished one night in September 2020, sparking a harrowing investigation.

Juan Carlos Hernandez was more than a victim; he was a vibrant young man contributing to his community while building his future. A 21-year-old student at El Camino College in Torrance, Juan was known for his kindness, intelligence, and community involvement. Described by his mother, Yajaira Hernandez, as “a great kid, smart, kind, great personality, always helpful (Link),” Juan was on track to transfer to the University of Southern California (USC) in Fall 2021, following in the footsteps of his older brother, a USC alumnus. He was deeply engaged in local programs since junior high, including the USC Neighborhood Academic Initiative (NAI) and Rundalay, an organization sponsoring charity runs. Juan loved marathons, soccer, volleyball, and robotics, and his close-knit family—mother Yajaira and two brothers—shared a special bond, often running together.

He balanced studies with part-time work to fund his education, especially after losing a previous job due to the COVID-19 pandemic. For about six months, he had been employed at VIP Collective LA, an unlicensed marijuana dispensary in the 8100 block of Western Avenue in South Los Angeles. Though not his ideal job, it helped him save for tuition. Juan was reliable and communicative, always texting his mother after his shifts.

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On September 22, 2020, Juan worked his usual 3:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. shift at the dispensary. He borrowed his mother’s 2020 Honda Civic to get to work, as was his routine. Around 10:00 p.m., he texted Yajaira that he was on his way home and should arrive shortly. But Juan never made it back.

The next morning, September 23, Yajaira woke to find neither her son nor the car at home. Calls to his phone went straight to voicemail, suggesting it was off or dead, unusual for the always-connected Juan. Alarmed, she began searching immediately, visiting the dispensary and speaking to staff. Police initially dismissed the case as a possible runaway, requiring a 72-hour wait for a missing persons report.

On September 24, around 2:30 a.m., the Honda Civic was found abandoned near Figueroa and 64th Street, a high-crime area known for prostitution and gang activity. Despite the dangerous neighborhood, Yajaira’s relatively new vehicle was operational and running, showing no signs of forced entry or carjacking. Furthermore, Juan’s possessions were all absent (phone, wallet, ID, etc), but his mother’s possessions still remained in the car. She had left her money, jewelry, electronic devices, a fit-bit watch, and work items in the car – all remained. Locals reported the vehicle had been there for hours (but not days, as one would have expected if Juan had abandoned it two days prior when he disappeared). The location was also just a short 5-10 minute drive from the dispensary, raising questions about why it was left in such a spot if robbery was the motive.

Approximately a week after Juan went missing, an unknown person called and attempted to blackmail the family for $7,000 with the promise that Juan would return safely if the family paid (Link). Although police determined the threat was not related to the actual kidnapping; they still requested assistance from the FBI as the case was becoming rapidly more complex. Yajaira distributed thousands of flyers and turned to social media, generating widespread attention.

Multiple Victims?: No

Rumored or Actual Sightings:

*If the date says January 1, this is often just a placeholder for an unknown specific date. It usually means “sometime that year”.

Date the Body was Recovered: November 15, 2020

Description: LAPD Detectives Daniel Jaramillo and Jennifer Hammer took over the case, obtaining warrants for Juan’s phone, bank, and social media records. Phone data showed his device was turned off near the dispensary shortly after his shift. On September 29, a search warrant at VIP Collective revealed security footage starting only from September 23, suspiciously missing the day of the disappearance.

Footage from the 23rd showed three people cleaning the floor:

• Manager Ethan Kedar Astaphan (then 27, from San Gabriel),
• Owner Weijia “James” Peng (34, from Alhambra), and
• Peng’s girlfriend, Sonita Heng (20, from Harbor City).

With help from the Glendale Police Department’s crime lab, detectives recovered deleted files, including a brief clip showing Astaphan choking Juan while Peng leaned in with an object, later identified as a syringe.

Cell phone pings from the suspects’ devices traced their movements to the Mojave Desert on the night of September 22. Searches began on November 13, expanding with helicopters, ATVs, and cadaver dogs.

In a heartbreaking ending, Juan’s body was recovered by police on November 15 in a shallow grave along Afton Canyon Road in the Mojave Desert, approximately 40 miles north-east of Barstow. Police have ruled his death a homicide. The body was partially decomposed, and the coroner initially couldn’t determine the cause of death, later amending it to strangulation and ketamine toxicity.

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Astaphan and Peng allegedly believed Juan was stealing money and marijuana from the dispensary, though no evidence supported this. WhatsApp messages between them in the days prior discussed firing employees and making an example of Juan, with Peng saying he wanted him “crippled for life.”

After Juan’s shift, Astaphan attacked him from behind, choking him to the ground. Peng injected a lethal dose of ketamine via syringe, contributing to his death. They loaded the body into Astaphan’s SUV, with Heng driving, and buried it in the desert during a three-hour trip. Post-mortem, more ketamine was injected, as Heng later recounted.

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On Thursday, November 19, police served Astaphan and his girlfriend Heng with search warrants at their homes and then arrested them on suspicion of murder and accessory after the fact respectively. Both pleaded not guilty. Heng would later cooperate with police in exchange for a plea deal, providing key testimony for probation plus 112 days in jail. Peng had fled to Turkey was but extradited in 2022 with FBI and U.S. Marshals’ assistance.

The trial began February 9, 2024, in Los Angeles Superior Court. After less than three hours of deliberation, the jury convicted Astaphan and Peng of first-degree murder on February 26, 2024. Peng received an additional allegation for using a deadly weapon.

Sentencing occurred on April 25, 2024. Astaphan got 25 years to life; Peng, 26 years to life. During the hearing, Yajaira and aunt Stephanie Pineda delivered poignant impact statements. “You took everything from me,” Yajaira told the defendants. Pineda urged them to remember Juan’s face.

This case underscores the dangers lurking in unexpected places and the importance of justice. Our thoughts remain with Juan’s family as they heal. If you have information on similar cases, contact authorities. . . Every tip counts.

Time of Death:

Cause of Death: Strangulation and Ketamine Toxicity (Homicide)

Recovered Remains (if partial):

Suspected Homicide?: Yes

Multiple Victims?: No

DNA Tested (No Match):

*If the date says January 1, this is often just a placeholder for an unknown specific date. It usually means “sometime that year”.

Description: 2020 Honda Civic, later found abandoned near Figueroa and 64th Street

License Plate:

Description: All suspects were linked to Juan’s workplace (VIP Collective):

• Manager Ethan Kedar Astaphan (then 27, from San Gabriel),
• Owner Weijia “James” Peng (34, from Alhambra), and
• Peng’s girlfriend, Sonita Heng (20, from Harbor City).