The Unsolved Mystery: 7 Shocking Facts About The Evelyn And Alex Hernandez Case, The 'Other Laci Peterson' Tragedy

Decades later, the haunting disappearance of Evelyn Hernandez and her young son, Alex, remains one of the most agonizing and perplexing unsolved mysteries in the history of San Francisco. As of December 10, 2025, this tragic cold case continues to baffle investigators and the true crime community, drawing renewed attention with every passing anniversary. The story of the pregnant mother and her five-year-old boy, often tragically overshadowed by the concurrent Laci Peterson case, highlights a profound injustice and an enduring quest for answers in the Bay Area.

The case, which began with a simple missing persons report in May 2002, quickly escalated into a homicide investigation when Evelyn's partial remains were discovered in the San Francisco Bay. The disappearance of her son, Alex Hernandez, and her full-term unborn child, however, remains a chilling void in the narrative, leaving a family devastated and law enforcement with an open file. This article delves into the critical timeline, the key facts, and the latest efforts to finally bring justice to Evelyn, Alex, and the baby who never had a name.

Evelyn Hernandez and Alex Hernandez: A Tragic Biography and Timeline

The story begins with a young, vibrant family in the Bay Area whose lives were tragically cut short or forever altered. Evelyn Hernandez was a 24-year-old woman, originally from El Salvador, living in San Francisco. She was a mother and was just days away from giving birth to her second child.

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• Victim: Evelyn Hernandez
• Date of Birth: February 23, 1978
• Age at Disappearance: 24
• Residence: San Francisco, California
• Missing Child: Alex Hernandez (also known as Alexis Hernandez)
• Alex's Age at Disappearance: 5 years old
• Unborn Child: Full-term baby boy (due date was May 10, 2002)
• Last Known Sighting: May 1, 2002, at her residence.
• Reported Missing: May 7, 2002.
• Discovery of Remains: July 24, 2002, in the San Francisco Bay, near the shoreline of the Presidio of San Francisco.
• Case Status: Unsolved Cold Case (Homicide and Missing Persons).

The timeline of the disappearance is critical to understanding the mystery. Evelyn was reportedly excited about her upcoming baby shower and was in contact with family members right up until the night of May 1st, 2002. When she failed to show up for work and her apartment was found unlocked with her keys and some belongings still inside, her family immediately knew something was terribly wrong. The subsequent search for the pregnant mother and her five-year-old son, Alex, captivated the San Francisco community and generated nationwide headlines.

The Chilling Discovery and the Laci Peterson Comparison

The search for Evelyn and Alex continued for weeks, with the San Francisco Police Department (SFPD) launching an extensive investigation. The first major break in the case, though devastating, came on July 24, 2002. A fisherman discovered Evelyn Hernandez's partial remains floating in the San Francisco Bay, near the Presidio. The remains were missing the head and several limbs, making identification difficult initially, but dental records later confirmed the identity of the homicide victim. Chillingly, the remains of her unborn son and Alex were not found with her, and they have never been recovered.

This timeline and the nature of the crime immediately drew comparisons to the high-profile Laci Peterson case in Modesto, California, which was unfolding around the same time. Laci Peterson, also pregnant, disappeared in December 2002, and her body, along with her unborn son, Conner, was found in the same stretch of the San Francisco Bay in April 2003. The similarities—two pregnant women, two missing children, and partial remains found in the same body of water—led to Evelyn's case being dubbed the "Other Laci Peterson" tragedy by the media and true crime enthusiasts. This unfortunate comparison, while increasing awareness, also led to Evelyn's case being sometimes overshadowed by the overwhelming media focus on Scott Peterson's trial.

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Investigators, including Inspector Holly Pera, worked tirelessly on the case. The discovery of Evelyn's wallet in a gutter several miles from her home, days after she was reported missing, was another perplexing detail that offered little in the way of immediate leads. Despite the intense media coverage and the efforts of the SFPD, the case stalled, moving into the cold case files.

Latest Updates and the Enduring Mystery of Alex Hernandez

As of the current date, the case of Evelyn and Alex Hernandez remains unsolved, a painful reality for the family and the Bay Area community. While there have been no recent arrests or major breakthroughs, the case is kept alive by the dedication of the San Francisco Police Department's Cold Case Unit, the media, and the passionate true crime community. Podcasts like *Crime Junkie* and articles in publications like *Forbes* and *People* periodically revisit the facts, generating new tips and keeping the pressure on for an answer.

The central, agonizing mystery is the fate of five-year-old Alex Hernandez and his unborn brother. The prevailing theory is that Alex and the baby were murdered alongside Evelyn, and their bodies were disposed of in the Bay, but without their remains, this part of the case is classified as a missing persons investigation. Alex is described as Hispanic, approximately 4 feet tall, with brown hair and brown eyes. The lack of any trace of the boy in the two decades since his disappearance strongly suggests he met a tragic end, but the hope for closure remains.

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The San Francisco Police Department continues to offer a substantial reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible for Evelyn's murder and the disappearance of Alex. This reward is a crucial tool in encouraging anyone with knowledge, however small, to come forward and provide the missing link in this complex investigation. The case is a stark reminder of the vulnerability of victims and the tireless work required to solve a crime when crucial evidence, like the full remains, is never found.

Exploring Potential Entities and Theories in the Cold Case

In any unsolved case, investigators and the public often explore various theories and persons of interest. While the SFPD has never officially named a suspect, the focus of the investigation often centers on those closest to Evelyn and the circumstances of her life in San Francisco. The entity of the person responsible for this horrific crime is the ultimate goal of the cold case unit.

One common theory in the true crime community revolves around a possible connection to the father of the unborn child, or another individual in Evelyn's life who may have been involved in domestic or personal issues. The fact that Evelyn was full-term pregnant is a significant factor, as many crimes against pregnant women are committed by the biological father or a jealous partner. However, without definitive evidence, these remain speculative theories. The complexity of the crime—the dismemberment and the disappearance of the children—suggests a perpetrator who was meticulous and determined to cover their tracks.

The comparison to the Laci Peterson case, while a media phenomenon, also serves as a cautionary tale. In the Laci Peterson case, the husband, Scott Peterson, was eventually convicted of the murder. In the Evelyn Hernandez case, no such clear evidence or suspect has ever emerged, highlighting the unique challenges faced by the original investigators. The geographic entity of the San Francisco Bay, a vast and powerful body of water, has effectively hidden the most crucial evidence—the remains of Alex and the unborn child—for over twenty years.

The enduring legacy of the Evelyn and Alex Hernandez case is a call to action. It is a reminder that a cold case is not a closed case. The names Evelyn Hernandez and Alex Hernandez represent a continuing quest for justice, urging anyone with information to contact the San Francisco Police Department. The pain of the family, the questions of the true crime community, and the open file on the desk of a cold case detective all point to a single, urgent need: to finally solve the mystery of what happened on that fateful night in May 2002 and bring the children home.