WINTER HAVEN ― Several people knew 20-year-old Sierra Hernandez was being held hostage, and possibly tortured, in a Winter Haven home prior to her death but never called police, according to an unredacted police affidavit released by Polk County Sheriff’s Office.
Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd this week announced that deputies had found the body of Hernandez, whose family had previously reported as missing. An all-out manhunt was launched for the prime suspect in her killing, Enrique Martinez, 26. He was arrested Tuesday afternoon.
“I will meet with you later, possibly tomorrow or early next week, and give you great details of what I think you will find to be a very interesting case,” Judd said at Tuesday’s news conference on Martinez’s arrest.
Judd had yet to call a news conference to provide details Hernandez’s death. The Ledger requested and obtained an unredacted copy of the police affidavit in Daphne Fernandez’s arrest that lays out what may have happened to Hernandez.
Hernandez’s mother, Rita Thomas, reported her as missing on Jan. 14 to the Sheriff’s Office. Thomas said Hernandez was last seen Jan. 4. Deputies immediately opened a missing-persons investigation.