Tulare County, CA — On June 26th, 2018 around 7 p.m., Tulare County Sheriff Deputies were called to the St. Johns River in the 32200 block on Road 212 in Woodlake regarding a possible drowning of a 7-month-old infant.
Deputies were told the infant slipped off a floating device and was swept away by the current and undertow of the river. The infant was found and given first aid and taken to a local hospital by ambulance, due to life threatening injuries.
Detectives from the Property Crimes and Ag. Crimes Unit were called out and responded to the scene. During the investigation, Detectives interviewed multiple witnesses and the victim’s mother, Alejandra Hernandez. The investigation revealed Alejandra Hernandez used poor judgement on that day by putting her infant into the river on a floating device, which would be typically used in a standard swimming pool.
Hernandez became uncooperative during the investigation and Detectives obtained a urine sample from her, which was sent to the Department of Justice. The results indicated she was under the influence of a controlled substance during the time of the incident. The case was then submitted to the Tulare County District Attorney’s Office for review.
On March 1, 2019, Detectives from the Property Crimes Unit obtained an arrest warrant from the Tulare County District Attorney’s Office. The warrant was for child endangerment and being under the influence of a controlled substance. The bail amount was listed at $50,000. Detectives searched for Hernandez and were able to find her at a business located in the 8900 block of Goshen Avenue in Visalia. Detectives took Hernandez into custody without incident. Hernandez was booked at the Tulare County Sheriff’s Department Pre-Trial Facility.
