DuPage County State’s Attorney Robert Berlin and DuPage County Sheriff James Mendrick announced Monday, March 23, 2026 that Judge Joshua Dieden has granted the State’s motion to deny pre-trial release for an Oak Forest man accused of strangling to death his estranged wife, Estefania Abril-Hernandez, with a vacuum power cord last week. Brian Hernandez, age 28, of the 5400 block of Christopher Drive, appeared in First Appearance Court this morning charged with two counts of First Degree Murder. Hernandez initially appeared in First Appearance Court on Saturday, March 21, 2026, where, at the public defender’s request, the case was held over to Monday morning.
On Wednesday, March 18, 2026, at approximately 8:00 p.m., the family of Estefania Abril-Hernandez, contacted police to report her missing. The DuPage County Sheriff’s Office immediately began an investigation. On Thursday, March 19, 2026, at approximately 2:45 a.m., troopers with the Illinois State Police stopped Estefania’s car on I-80, allegedly being driven by Hernandez. Hernandez, who was allegedly in possession of Estefania’s cell phone, was then taken into custody. Further investigation led authorities to Hernandez and his wife’s now vacant, former residence in the block of 100 1S Ingersoll Road in Villa Park. One hour later on Thursday, March 19, 2026, at approximately 3:49 a.m., after gaining access to the vacant home through an unlocked window, authorities found Estefania deceased, lying on a bed in a second-floor bedroom with a vacuum power cord wrapped tightly around her neck. Hernandez and his wife were at their former residence on Wednesday, March 18, 2026 to clean up and retrieve personal items before the foreclosure auction scheduled for the next day. While the couple was at the home, they began to argue. Allegedly, the argument turned physical leading Hernandez to strangle Estefania with a vacuum power cord, which he wrapped around her neck more than nine times. It is alleged that after the murder, Hernandez fled the scene. During the investigation, authorities found text messages allegedly sent by Hernandez to another individual stating “Hey **** (name redacted) please call me I have something to confess please” and “I’m pretty sure estefania (sic) is dead.” Authorities also learned that Hernandez currently has an order of protection against him in conjunction with a criminal case that prohibits contact with Estefania and their son. Additionally, Hernandez is on pre-trial release and has an active failure to appear warrant in that criminal case, where it is alleged that he interfered with the victim’s attempt to report an act of domestic violence.
“I offer my sincerest condolences to Estefania’s surviving family and friends and wish them strength as they continue their lives without the love and support she once provided. What makes this case particularly troubling is the fact despite having an active order of protection against him and being on pre-trial release for interfering with the reporting of domestic violence and then failing to appear in that case, Mr. Hernandez allegedly thumbed his nose at the law, and violently murdered his wife. Public safety is my office’s top priority. The fact that Mr. Hernandez was charged with interfering with reporting of domestic violence, a non-detainable offense, and released pre-trial, illustrates the need to strengthen the State’s Safe-T-Act to allow a judge the opportunity to detain an individual based on the facts and circumstances of each particular defendant’s case. I thank Sheriff Mendrick and his team whose outstanding efforts led to the apprehension of the defendant less than seven hours after the missing person call came in. Their work on this case is a testament to the Office’s professionalism and dedication to the rule of law. I also thank the Illinois State Police for their work in apprehending the defendant as well as Assistant State’s Attorney Nick Catizone for his efforts the past few days that resulted in charges against Mr. Hernandez.”
— DuPage County State’s Attorney Robert B. Berlin
“I would like to commend our deputies in their efforts to locate Estefania. This tragedy deprived Estefania’s family of a loving mother, sister and daughter. The coordinated efforts of the Sheriff’s Office Deputies and Investigators, Illinois State Police and State’s Attorney Bob Berlin and his team allowed Hernandez to be apprehended and charged with this crime.”
— DuPage County Sheriff James Mendrick
Hernandez’s next court appearance is scheduled for April 6, 2026, in front of Judge Mia McPherson.
Members of the public are reminded that these complaints contain only charges and are not proof of the defendant’s guilt. A defendant is presumed innocent and is entitled to a fair trial in which it is the government’s burden to prove his or her guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
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