fugitives amw case file

AMW Case File

Juan Jose Hernandez-Mendoza

Aliases: Juan Hernandez, Jose Mendoza

Juan Hernandez-Mendoza,Juan Hernandez, Jose Mendoza | fugitives,Juan Hernandez Mendoza,Juan Hernandez,Jose Mendoza americas most wanted,amw,america's most wanted,amw.com,america most wanted,missing,name,search,fugitives,children,america's,police,cops,persons,tip,captures,murder,american most wanted,american most wanted,america's most wanted amw

Wanted For:

Possible Location(s):

  • Los Angeles , CA
  • Stockton , CA

Latest Airing:


Juan Hernandez-Mendoza,Juan Hernandez, Jose Mendoza | fugitives,Juan Hernandez Mendoza,Juan Hernandez,Jose Mendoza americas most wanted,amw,america's most wanted,amw.com,america most wanted,missing,name,search,fugitives,children,america's,police,cops,persons,tip,captures,murder,american most wanted,american most wanted,america's most wanted amw Fugitive Wanted For Murder Found In Oregon Prison

A tipster alerted cops that fugitive Juan Hernandez-Mendoza, who was wanted for the brutal August 2003 murder of a security guard, was already incarcerated in a Portland, Ore. jail. Cops used fingerprints to identify Mendoza, and to link him to the murder of 58-year-old Manuel Reyes. Mendoza was incarcerated under an alias, and had already been convicted of child molestation.
»The Full Story



Last updated October 16, 2008

fugitives,juan hernandez mendoza,juan hernandez,jose mendoza,americas most wanted,amw,america's most wanted,amw.com,america most wanted,missing,name,search,fugitives,children,america's,police,cops,persons,tip,captures,murder,american most wanted,american most wanted,america's most wanted amw,fugitives,juan,hernandez,mendoza,case,fugitive,wanted,murder,oregon,prison,tipster,alerted,cops,brutal,august,2003,security,guard,incarcerated,portland,ore,jail,used,fingerprints,identify,link | americas most wanted,amw,america's most wanted,amw.com,america most wanted,missing,name,search,fugitives,children,america's,police,cops,persons,tip,captures,murder,american most wanted,american most wanted,america's most wanted amw Juan Jose Hernandez-Mendoza

Police Say Passenger Proves Fatal For Do-Good Guard

He was just trying to help a guy out.

On August 4, 2003, Manuel Reyes, a 58-year-old security guard, was at his post at the Yountville Veterans Home in California when a cab pulled up.  The driver needed help -- his passenger was a Hispanic man who spoke little English, and the driver spoke no Spanish. He needed a translator.  Manuel was happy to help.

In fact, Manuel decided to go one step further -- since they spoke a common language, he offered to give the man a ride himself.  But that charitable act turned out to be a grave error.

Later that night, Manuel's car was found crashed into a tree, and his lifeless body lay beside it.  He had been stabbed to death with a knife.  The murder weapon, along with a "Titleist" baseball cap, were found at the scene.

Cops say they pulled video surveillance and saw a man who appeared to be Hernandez-Mendoza enter and exit multiple times, but the man made only one purchase -- a knife.

Clues Point Toward Hernandez

For police, the crime was baffling. Nothing was taken, so robbery wasn't a motive, and Manuel didn't know the man in the cab, so it couldn't have been a personal vendetta.  So how were they going to track the killer?

First police talked to the cab driver, who helped them come up with a composite of the man they were looking for -- and that sketch did the trick.  Cops say people in the neighborhood recognized the man they were looking for as Juan Hernandez-Mendoza.

At the same time, cops cased the neighborhood where the cab driver had picked up his fare, hoping to learn if anyone had seen Hernandez-Mendoza that day.  They soon found that according to a witness, Hernandez-Mendoza had been in a sporting goods store.  Cops say they pulled video surveillance and saw a man who appeared to be Hernandez-Mendoza enter and exit multiple times, but the man made only one purchase -- a knife.

This was all the evidence cops needed to get a murder warrant for Hernandez-Mendoza.  Now they're hoping for one last big break -- that someone will recognize Hernandez-Mendoza and lead police right to him.

Wanted For:

  • Murder , Yountville , CA ; Aug 04, 2003
(Information valid as of October 16, 2008)

Television Airings:


fugitives,juan hernandez mendoza,juan hernandez,jose mendoza,americas most wanted,amw,america's most wanted,amw.com,america most wanted,missing,name,search,fugitives,children,america's,police,cops,persons,tip,captures,murder,american most wanted,american most wanted,america's most wanted amw,fugitives,juan,hernandez,mendoza,case,fugitive,wanted,murder,oregon,prison,tipster,alerted,cops,brutal,august,2003,security,guard,incarcerated,portland,ore,jail,used,fingerprints,identify,link | americas most wanted,amw,america's most wanted,amw.com,america most wanted,missing,name,search,fugitives,children,america's,police,cops,persons,tip,captures,murder,american most wanted,american most wanted,america's most wanted amw Juan Jose Hernandez-Mendoza

Cops Find Murder Suspect In Portland, Ore. Prison

Cops in Portland, Ore. have located Juan Hernandez-Mendoza -- but this most-wanted fugitive was found in a prison cell, using a false name, and already serving a 14-year sentence.

Hernandez, who had been profiled on AMW.com, was wanted for the brutal August 2003 murder of a security guard.  Hernandez was convicted and sentenced to 14 years in prison for an unrelated child molestation case under the alias, according to police.

Using fingerprint technology, cops ran Mendoza's prints and discovered that he was also wanted for the murder of 58-year-old security guard Manuel Reyes.  Cops say Mendoza remains in prison and will soon face new charges for Reyes' murder.


fugitives,juan hernandez mendoza,juan hernandez,jose mendoza,americas most wanted,amw,america's most wanted,amw.com,america most wanted,missing,name,search,fugitives,children,america's,police,cops,persons,tip,captures,murder,american most wanted,american most wanted,america's most wanted amw,fugitives,juan,hernandez,mendoza,case,fugitive,wanted,murder,oregon,prison,tipster,alerted,cops,brutal,august,2003,security,guard,incarcerated,portland,ore,jail,used,fingerprints,identify,link | americas most wanted,amw,america's most wanted,amw.com,america most wanted,missing,name,search,fugitives,children,america's,police,cops,persons,tip,captures,murder,american most wanted,american most wanted,america's most wanted amw Juan Jose Hernandez-Mendoza

Aliases: Juan Hernandez, Jose Mendoza

Sex:
Male
Race:
Hispanic
Current Age:
30
Height:
5'6"
Weight:
140
Hair (Color, Description, Facial Hair):
  • Black
Eyes:
  • Brown
Other Phys. Characteristics:
  • Has a large mole on his left cheek
  • Has warts on his right forearm
Last Seen:
  • Napa , CA
Other Possible Locations:
  • Los Angeles , CA
  • Stockton , CA
  • Police believe Hernandez fled south to Los Angeles, or maybe the California/Mexico border.
Last Known Locations:
  • Napa , CA
Had a residence on the 2100 block of Russell Street in Napa at the time of the murder.

Latest Updates

Cops: Shameless Opportunist Kills Ariz. Teen photo
Police say a man somehow befriended a 19-year-old on a bus, made his way into the young man's apartment, robbed him and stabbed him to death. He was seen...
»The Full Story
Ariz. Cops: Mom Caught In Drug Dealer's Crosshairs photo
When Gila River, Ariz. cops first arrived at the scene, the skid marks on the road and shattered glass along the pavement seemed to indicate a routine car...
»The Full Story
America's Most Wanted with John Walsh Loading
America's Most Wanted with John Walsh Loading

AMW Quick Search

Americas Most Wanted

AMW is easy! Simply type the first name, last name or "moniker" of the person or case you are looking for and the search box will retrieve a list of all the cases in our system. Wait for the drop down box to appear with a list of possible matches and select the name of the case that you were looking for and click GO. You must type in a minimum of 4 letters.