WINTER HAVEN, Fla. (WFLA) — Charges were dropped Wednesday against the father of 20-year-old Sierra Hernandez and four others who were arrested while searching for her last week.
A message sent to Sierra Hernandez’s family led the search group to a home on Avenue T in Winter Haven.
“They were told that she was burnt in this yard, so they dug up in the yard to see if they could find her,” said Trey Stokes, the victim’s cousin. “They did what every mom dad, sister, brother would do to find a lost loved one.”
All five people were arrested and taken to jail with charges that included tampering with evidence.
They were in jail more than five days before the State Attorney’s Office shared they were dismissing all charges on Wednesday.
Christopher “Shawn” Hernandez is Sierra Hernandez’s dad. His sister told 8 On Your Side that jail is not a place for him to mourn.
“He needs to be around people who support him and love him, not in a cell with people he doesn’t know and can’t relate to the fact of what our family is going through,” Linda Hernandez said.
