Daryl Barrera was fifteen years old living in Texas when he would murder Kaitlin Hernandez
According to court documents Daryl Barrera and Kaitlin Hernandez went for a walk and she would not return
Kaitlin Hernandez body would later be found half nude and covered in bruises. It was later determined that she was strangled
Daryl Barrera would be arrested, plead guilty and was sentenced to thirty five years in prison
Daryl Barrera Case
A San Antonio teen charged with capital murder in the strangulation of 17-year-old Kaitlin Hernandez was sentenced Friday to 35 years in prison per a plea deal.
Daryl Barrera, 16, pleaded no contest to the lesser charge of murder. In November, he was certified as an adult in the case.
Barrera was 15 years old when he was charged with capital murder in the death of Hernandez.
Hernandez, a Roosevelt High School senior, was found dead in a drainage ditch under a bridge in the 7600 block of Dell Oak Drive in March 2024. She was less than a half-mile from her home.
SAPD Det. Randal Hines said Hernandez was found naked from the waist down and had multiple bruises and signs of strangulation.
Authorities said she had gone for a walk with Barrera but never returned.
Barrera, who returned home without her, was later arrested and charged after police linked DNA and other evidence to the crime.
Even after he was charged as an adult, Barrera was still staying in juvenile detention but was recently moved to the Bexar County Jail because of behavior issues.
Hernandez’s mother and aunt said they weren’t satisfied with the plea deal but thankful for the years of prison time he was given.
“He gets to stand there while we get to talk about her, it’s not fair,” Crystal Rodriguez said. “The heartache and the pain never goes away.”
Barrera is eligible for parole after serving his time.
Teen charged with the murder of 17-year-old girl sentenced to 35 years per plea deal
Daryl Barrera News
A teenagers now has a 35-year sentence in prison after he took a plea deal in a case involving a strangled 17-year-old girl.
Daryl Barrera was 15 years old when he went for a walk with Roosevelt High School senior Kaitlin Hernandez in March 2024. Barrera returned from that walk, but Hernandez did not
Investigators later found Hernandez dead in a drainage ditch in the 7600 block of Dell Oak Drive, less than a half-mile from her house. Her body showed bruising and it appeared she had been strangled.
Barrera was later arrested and charged with capital murder after DNA and other evidence linked him to the crime. In November, he was certified as a adult.
KSAT-12 reports Barrera was recently moved to the Bexar County Jail due to behavior issues.
After the plea deal, Barrera was convicted on the lesser charge of murder. He will be eligible for parole after serving his sentence.
Teen gets 35 years in prison after plea deal in case of murdered 17-year-old girl – KTSA
