Searching for clues

No new leads in July 26 missing person case



MISSING— Javier Jimenez Hernandez disappeared in July. Courtesy of Santiago Jimenez

MISSING— Javier Jimenez Hernandez disappeared in July. Courtesy of Santiago Jimenez

It’s been 51 days since Santiago Jimenez saw his brother, Javier Jimenez Hernandez, and with each passing day the nightmare grows scarier for the Simi Valley family.

July 26 began like any other day in the family’s house. Santiago, 28, and Javier, 30, exchanged morning greetings, and Javier hugged their father before heading out for the day in his car.

Jimenez told the Simi Valley Acorn his brother, who has bipolar disorder and depression, seemed fine, like he was just heading out to run some errands. Even though Hernandez had mental health issues, he didn’t appear to be hiding anything, his brother said.

It wasn’t until July 29 that the family realized Hernandez was missing.

Jimenez said the family thought Hernandez had stayed with a friend on July 27, and when he didn’t answer his phone, they thought it may be off or the battery had died. On July 28, still with no word from Hernandez, the family went to the police station and learned his car had been involved in a hit-and-run.

The family filed a missing persons report the next day, Jimenez said.

“Nothing adds up about why he might’ve disappeared,” he said of the brother he described as someone who always kept his word and was responsible.

“If he said he’d be somewhere, then he was. So for him to not even call, that’s what bothers us most. He’s constantly on our minds and it’s a nightmare.”

Described as a 5-foot-11-inch Hispanic male weighing about 220 pounds with brown eyes and black hair, Hernandez is believed to have last been seen around 9:40 p.m. July 26 in the area of Kuehner Drive and the 118 Freeway, when his 2014 black Buick Verano was involved in a hit-and-run.

Simi Valley Sgt. Steve Shorts said the other driver reported the accident to police but didn’t have a clear description of the motorist in the Buick and couldn’t confirm 100 percent that Hernandez was the driver.

The vehicle was found abandoned around 11 p.m. that night near a trailhead at Cottonwood Street and Yosemite Avenue, about 3½ miles from the accident site.

“We want to check on Javier’s welfare and because his car was involved in an accident, we’d also like to talk with him about that, but that’s secondary to finding him,” Shorts said.

Since Hernandez’s disappearance, his family and friends have searched the hills from the east to the west end of town, but so far nothing that might offer any leads has turned up, Jimenez said.

Hernandez is a Simi native who graduated from Royal High School in 2006 and volunteered for four years with the Simi Valley Police Explorers.

A welder by trade, the missing man often traveled for work, so the family’s search also includes the San Fernando Valley, Orange County and San Bernardino County. They’ve posted flyers citywide.

Shorts said SVPD conducted searches on Aug. 5, 7 and 8. The Ventura County Sheriff’s Office sent out their search and rescue team with a bloodhound and sent a helicopter to look for Hernandez by air.

“There haven’t been any new leads on what happened or where Javier might be, but there’s no information to suggest foul play was involved,” Shorts said.

Scarce information about what happened to Hernandez and a lack of leads hasn’t kept the family from continuing to search for their loved one.

“If it was one of us, Javier would be out there looking for us. So that’s what we’re doing for him,” Jimenez said. “It’s difficult at times to figure out what to do next, but we’re just keeping the faith that he’ll be found. That’s our main priority.”

And Jimenez knows his family isn’t the only one dealing with a mysterious disappearance.

Matthew Weaver Jr., a 21-year-old Simi native who recently moved to Granada Hills, was declared missing Aug. 11 after his car was found abandoned near the Rosas Overlook, above the Backbone Trail and Hondo Canyon in the Topanga Canyon area. He was still missing at press time.

“We feel for the Weaver family and what they’re going through. So as we’re out looking for Javier, we’re also looking for Matthew,” Santiago said.

Anyone with information on Hernandez should contact SVPD Detective Jeff Quartararo at (805) 583-6956. Information about Weaver should be directed to the LAPD’s missing persons unit at (213) 996-1800.