Missing woman's family offers reward

By Nicole Casal



Relatives of missing persons Annie Hernandez and her two daughters have pooled money together, and they are offering a $15,000 reward for information on their loved ones' disappearance.

"It's so that hopefully somebody will help find her," said Jeanne Peterson, Hernandez's mother. "It's our feeling that somebody knows something and if that's what you gotta do to get your daughter back...."

Peterson was the last to see the 34-year-old woman and her daughters, Jesika Hernandez, 2, and Korra Meyers, 5. The trio met Peterson at a south Sacramento McDonald's on the evening of Nov. 2, when Hernandez left her youngest son with Peterson.

Such exchanges were not uncommon, Peterson said.

Hernandez and her husband Armando Hernandez had been fighting that night, and he said he didn't expect her to return that evening. She has left before after fights, but she always calls someone to say where she is.

The disappearance wasn't reported for about 5 days after the trio was last seen. Peterson thought Hernandez was with her husband and her husband thought they were with Peterson.

When the circumstances were finally reported, Peterson, who lives in Dixon, called the Vacaville Police Department.

Galt Police were not involved until more than two weeks later. They missed investigating during what some consider the most crucial hours.

"The first hours are the most precious and she didn't even have that," said Lori Ramirez, an acquaintance of Hernandez's. "The more days that go by, the less chance we have of finding her."

Lt. Jim Uptegrove, a detective at the Galt Police Department, agreed that the time that passed before she was reported missing might have affected the investigation.

"Because she wasn't immediately reported missing, everyone, including her family, thought she was voluntarily missing. There was no evidence of foul play.... That didn't precipitate an immediate search," Uptegrove said.

The police continue receiving and looking into reports of sitings.

Friends and family have been working together to try to find Hernandez and the girls. Anonymous people have called with tips on her whereabouts and friends and relatives have been investigating.

Last week, friend Lee Williams searched near the river to see if her car had gone off the road. He said he is in contact with her parents daily.

"We've all been exhausting the little funds that we have," Williams said. "What I have left after pay day, I put towards fliers and ink cartridges so I can print them up at home."

Williams said it would be nice if someone could donate some space for a command center, so they could organize their efforts better.

"...So we can put all the pieces on the table and put the puzzle together and bring Annie home," Williams said.

The Hernandez reward fund is at Stockman's Bank, account number 203008289, for anyone interested in making a donation. There is also an account there for search supplies.

There isn't much else the Galt Police Department can do now, since Hernandez is an adult, and the mother of the missing children.

Pamela Ellis, of Cyndi Search Headquarters, who has recently become involved in the search, said that's the very reason her organization exists.

"We've unfortunately learned from experience with Cyndi, if you're a missing adult, there's not many organizations that can help," Ellis said. "You're left waiting by the phone for the call from police."

Kim Wrage, founder of the organization, is the sister of Cyndi Vanderheiden, an area woman who has been missing for more than a year and is presumed dead.