SUMMIT COUNTY, CO – A 19-year-old Colorado man who stands accused of murdering his girlfriend in late 2025 allegedly told investigators that the deceased had been suicidal prior to her passing, while also reportedly trying to throw off investigators by asserting that another man had been “harassing her.”
On the afternoon of December 29th, 2025, Frisco Police responded to an apartment complex after receiving a call from one of the residents claiming that they discovered a body stuffed into a trash bag underneath the bed of one of the occupants. When police arrived on the scene, they found the dismembered body of 20-year-old Griselda Amarilis Lopez-Racancoj inside of a white garbage bag, along other evidence suggesting a murder occurred inside the unit.
Police detained three male residents of the unit, one of which was the deceased’s 19-year-old boyfriend Luis Antonio Mendez Hernandez, while interviewing a female witness. The witness reportedly told authorities they hadn’t seen or heard from Lopez-Racancoj since December 27th, while also informing authorities that the victim and Hernandez recently split up following an argument.
As police searched the apartment, they reportedly discovered a bloodied steak knife inside of a bedroom closet alongside a pillow with blood stain patterns that suggested it may’ve been used to smother the victim’s face. One of the roommates allegedly told authorities they’d received a flurry of odd text messages from Hernandez suggesting his girlfriend may be suicidal the evening prior to Lopez-Racancoj’s body being discovered.
When police interviewed Hernandez, who apparently harbored scratch marks on his neck and arms, he claimed he happened to discover Lopez-Racancoj’s dead in his bed during the early morning hours of December 28th after their child’s crying woke him up. Hernandez reportedly claimed that he didn’t call 911 or attempt CPR because he was in shock and was worried he’d be blamed for her death.
When probed as to what Hernandez thought happened to his girlfriend, he allegedly told authorities about another man who’d been “harassing her” recently, while also asserting she’d been suicidal. Authorities say Hernandez refused to discuss the fatal injuries observed on Lopez-Racancoj’s body while also claiming the scratch marks on his neck and arms were self-inflicted.
The suspect did allegedly confess to wrapping up and concealing the victim’s body underneath his bed while researching possible next steps, including potentially making a run for Mexico to evade authorities.
A month prior to the discovery of Lopez-Racancoj’s body, police had responded to a domestic incident at the couple’s residence where Hernandez was taken in on charges of assault and child abuse. Hernandez later bonded out on the aforementioned charges after posting a $20,000 cash surety bond.
Hernandez has since been charged with murder in the first degree after deliberation, murder in the first degree with extreme indifference, murder in the second degree and tampering with a deceased human body, with bond being set at $5 million.
On the afternoon of December 29th, 2025, Frisco Police responded to an apartment complex after receiving a call from one of the residents claiming that they discovered a body stuffed into a trash bag underneath the bed of one of the occupants. When police arrived on the scene, they found the dismembered body of 20-year-old Griselda Amarilis Lopez-Racancoj inside of a white garbage bag, along other evidence suggesting a murder occurred inside the unit.
Police detained three male residents of the unit, one of which was the deceased’s 19-year-old boyfriend Luis Antonio Mendez Hernandez, while interviewing a female witness. The witness reportedly told authorities they hadn’t seen or heard from Lopez-Racancoj since December 27th, while also informing authorities that the victim and Hernandez recently split up following an argument.
As police searched the apartment, they reportedly discovered a bloodied steak knife inside of a bedroom closet alongside a pillow with blood stain patterns that suggested it may’ve been used to smother the victim’s face. One of the roommates allegedly told authorities they’d received a flurry of odd text messages from Hernandez suggesting his girlfriend may be suicidal the evening prior to Lopez-Racancoj’s body being discovered.
When police interviewed Hernandez, who apparently harbored scratch marks on his neck and arms, he claimed he happened to discover Lopez-Racancoj’s dead in his bed during the early morning hours of December 28th after their child’s crying woke him up. Hernandez reportedly claimed that he didn’t call 911 or attempt CPR because he was in shock and was worried he’d be blamed for her death.
When probed as to what Hernandez thought happened to his girlfriend, he allegedly told authorities about another man who’d been “harassing her” recently, while also asserting she’d been suicidal. Authorities say Hernandez refused to discuss the fatal injuries observed on Lopez-Racancoj’s body while also claiming the scratch marks on his neck and arms were self-inflicted.
The suspect did allegedly confess to wrapping up and concealing the victim’s body underneath his bed while researching possible next steps, including potentially making a run for Mexico to evade authorities.
A month prior to the discovery of Lopez-Racancoj’s body, police had responded to a domestic incident at the couple’s residence where Hernandez was taken in on charges of assault and child abuse. Hernandez later bonded out on the aforementioned charges after posting a $20,000 cash surety bond.
Hernandez has since been charged with murder in the first degree after deliberation, murder in the first degree with extreme indifference, murder in the second degree and tampering with a deceased human body, with bond being set at $5 million.
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