SAN ANTONIO — Alicia Hernandez has lost both of her granddaughters within months of each other.
Kaitlin Hernandez, a 17-year-old high school senior, was killed in March. Police arrested and charged her 15-year-old friend with capital murder. Police believe he strangled her then left her body in a ditch just minutes from her home.
But several months prior, her sister, 18-year-old Kaylee Hernandez died on Nov. 1, 2023. The cause of her death is still unknown.
On Tuesday, her aunt, Crystal Barron-Hernandez said they got a call from the medical examiner that her case was now closed, and her death was ruled undetermined after performing a toxicology report.
“She did not want to die, she was not ready to die,” Barron-Rodriguez said.
San Antonio police said the case is considered a sudden death investigation and they suspect no foul play. However, the family feels otherwise.
They said the night of Oct. 31, she went out trick or treating and came home around 9:30. They said she was then seen on surveillance video going outside to grab something from two people in a car then heading back inside.
That next morning, her grandmother said she went to her room to wake her up.
“She wasn’t breathing and when I touched her body, her body was already cold,” Alicia said.
Kaylee was dead. A homicide detective began investigating the case, according to the family. Then the medical examiner ordered a toxicology report.
“We waited 8 long months; we didn’t wait 8 long months to hear undetermined,” Barron-Rodriguez said.
The family said they found text messages on Kaylee’s phone that night before she died from the people who dropped something off to her. They suspect she took something that killed her.
“The text messages were just saying, Kaylee are you ok? Answer us, text us back,” Barron-Rodriguez said.
The family said they just want answers. They do not believe she took her own life, adding that she talked often about becoming a teacher and a mother one day.
“She wanted to graduate on the stage, that was one of her goals,” Alicia said.
If someone is responsible for her death, the family said they want justice.
“She was just a loving, caring 18-year-old who had so many dreams and goals,” Barron-Rodriguez said.
San Antonio police said they are awaiting an expanded toxicology report but are not considering the death a homicide at this point.