SAN ANTONIO – San Antonio police said Thursday they had identified a man they once considered a “person of interest” in the death of a 17-year-old girl but have made no arrests in the case.
Officers were called around 2:30 a.m. on Wednesday to the 7600 block of Dell Oak Drive, not far from Walzem Road and Eisenhauer Road after receiving word of a missing person.
According to police, the girl — who has since been identified as Kaitlin Elizabeth Hernandez — went for a walk with a neighbor on Tuesday evening but when he returned a few hours later, she wasn’t with him.
Police said officers searched the area and found her phone and jacket before finally finding her naked body under a bridge.
The Medical Examiner said Hernandez had been strangled.
SAPD said the guy she was with, who is said to be a neighborhood friend, was detained for questioning.
Early Wednesday morning SAPD released an image of a different “person of interest” on their Facebook page.
On Thursday, SAPD said the man had been identified and was cooperating. The man’s image was taken off SAPD’s social media accounts and a spokesperson advised media to also take down the images.
On Thursday, Crime Stoppers announced it is offering a reward of up to $5,000 for information leading to a felony arrest.
Tips can be made by calling Crime Stoppers at 210-224-STOP, texting “Tip 127 plus your tip” to CRIMES (274637), or using the P3 Tips app. Tipsters can remain anonymous.
The investigation into the death is ongoing.
This is a developing story. Stay with KSAT 12 both online and on-air for more information.