RENTON, WA — Renton detectives suspect foul play in the disappearance of a 54-year-old woman who was reported missing last week.
According to the Renton Police Department (RPD), Reyna Hernandez, 54, left her Renton Highlands home to run an errand on February 26 and never returned.
Hernandez's friends were worried that Hernandez had not returned home, answered her phone calls, or returned to work at her hair salon, Reina Hair Salon, and was reported missing on February 28. was reported.
In an update Tuesday morning, RPD said detectives had served multiple search warrants over the past few days and were following up on leads. A friend reported the last time she spoke to Hernandez was between 10:00 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. on February 26, when Hernandez was running errands, police said. She reportedly told her friend she was going to a house in south Renton.
Investigators said Tuesday that evidence collected during the search warrant “indicates that Ms. Hernandez was taken against her will.” Investigators do not believe Hernandez's vehicle is currently in the area.
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RPD said detectives have been in contact with Hernandez's family and friends, but have not heard from her yet. “This is highly unusual,” RPD said in a statement.
Hernandez is approximately 6 feet tall, weighs approximately 210 pounds, and has black hair and hazel eyes. Investigators say she usually drives a white/maroon Ford Flex with Washington plates APR 9503.
Sahagun, who is German, said her family owns a Mexican restaurant next door to Hernandez's salon and that she is a regular customer of the restaurant.
“She used to cut my hair,” said Sahagun, who has known Hernandez for 10 years.
“She's very outspoken, loud and friendly. She always said hello every time we met,” Sahagun said, adding that Hernandez is well-liked by the community.
Sahagun last saw Hernandez two days before his disappearance. She was sitting in a corner booth with two of her female friends. This time, Sahagun noticed something different.
“I thought it was a little weird because she was kind of quiet that day. Usually she says my nickname and calls me Roman. She didn't really react to me that day. Usually she… was the first to greet me, and I greeted her first. I noticed something wasn't right,” he said.
Police Department spokeswoman Megan Black said Hernandez was living at a home in South Renton on the day of her disappearance.
Police have not said at this time what street the home is located on or what specific evidence they have found.
Black said three men lived in the home. They have spoken to two of the men and are still trying to speak to another man. Efforts to speak to the person were unsuccessful. Black said Hernandez knew the people who lived in the home.
As the investigation continues, Black said Hernandez's family traveled to Washington from Mexico.
No persons of interest or suspects have yet been named.
“She is not responding to anyone's inquiries and is acting very unusual. We are working under the assumption that she is fine and is probably not communicating for some reason. We want to make sure that that's the case.'' Black said.
Her car has not been found and her cell phone was turned off, authorities said.
Renton police are asking the public for information to help locate Hernandez.
No other information available at this time.
