Maria Hernandez and her daughter Carmen were walking from their Newark home to Maria’s workplace about 3:00 a.m. on February 1, 2004, when they were followed, chased and fatally bludgeoned near the intersection of Alameda Drive and Contra Costa Avenue. Both victims were struck with a large tree branch; the suspect reportedly tossed the branch onto the bodies before fleeing north on Contra Costa Avenue.

Witnesses described the attacker as a white or Hispanic male in his mid 20s, about 6 feet to 6 feet 2 inches and 180–200 pounds, with medium-length brown hair, wearing a blue denim jacket with light-colored sleeves, stonewashed grey or black jeans and white tennis shoes. A light-colored 1986–1989 Honda Accord 2-door was seen parked nearby and may have contained three other people; it left westbound on Alameda Drive after the suspect ran off on foot.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Fremont Police Detective Jacob Blass at 510-790-6963 or by email. Did anyone in the neighborhood notice a vehicle matching that description or someone matching the suspect’s description around 3:00 a.m. that morning?