On February 1, 2004, about 3:00 a.m., Maria Hernandez and her daughter Carmen Hernandez were walking from their Newark home toward Maria’s place of business when a man began following them on Thornton Ave in Fremont. The follower chased them, caught up near Alameda Dr and Contra Costa Ave, and bludgeoned both women to death with a large tree branch. The attacker was seen throwing the branch on top of the victims before running northbound on Contra Costa Ave.

The suspect was described as a white or Hispanic male, mid-20s, about 6 feet to 6 feet 2 inches, 180–200 pounds, medium to heavy build, medium-length brown hair, last seen wearing a blue denim jacket with light-colored sleeves, stonewashed grey/black jeans and white tennis shoes. A light-colored 1986–1989 two-door Honda Accord was parked alongside the victims and may have contained three other people; the car then left westbound on Alameda Dr while the suspect fled on foot.

Anyone with information about the jeans, the vehicle, or movements on Contra Costa Ave that night is asked to contact Fremont Police Detective Jacob Blass at 510-790-6963 or by email.