A 19-year-old man in Colorado is accused of killing and dismembering the mother of his child, hiding her remains under their bed, and later suggesting she had taken her own life.
Police say the case unravelled after roommates raised concerns that led officers to a grim discovery inside the shared home.
Police Respond to Late-Night 'Medical Emergency'
According to authorities, officers from the Frisco Police Department responded to a call reporting a medical emergency at a residence shortly after midnight on 29 December 2025.
When first responders arrived, they encountered circumstances that immediately raised red flags. An adult female was found dead inside the home and was later identified as Griselda Amarilis Lopez-Racancoj.
Due to what police described as the nature of the scene, investigators secured a search warrant and took the victim's boyfriend, Luis Antonio Mendez Hernandez, into custody later that day.
𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗝𝗘𝗦𝗦 𝗗𝗢𝗖𝗞𝗘𝗧 |
— Gen Just Law (@genjustlaw) January 25, 2026
Luis Antonio Mendez Hernandez,19, was arrested in Frisco, Colorado.
⬜ alleged to have killed & dismembered girlfriend, Griselda Amarilis Lopez-Racancoj.
⬜ hid her remains under the bed before trying to tell others she killed herself. pic.twitter.com/shC5sSvu32
Dismembered Body Found Under the Bed
According to the probable cause affidavit obtained by Summit Daily, two female residents told police they noticed what appeared to be a person under the bed in the room shared by Hernandez and Lopez-Racancoj.
A subsequent search revealed the victim's dismembered body inside a white trash bag that had been 'stuffed' beneath the bed.
Roommates Describe Suspicious Behaviour
One roommate told police the couple had argued on the night of 27 December, after which Lopez-Racancoj was not seen again. The witness also reported that Hernandez was observed the following morning with visible scratch marks on his neck and chest.
Another resident said Hernandez sent 'strange' text messages on 28 December claiming Lopez-Racancoj was suicidal. When questioned directly about her whereabouts, he allegedly refused to provide an answer.
Evidence Recovered Inside the Home
During a search of the residence, investigators recovered a six-inch (15 cm) steak knife from a closet in Hernandez's room that was reportedly covered in blood. Police also found pillows bearing blood patterns consistent with being held against a person's face.
Authorities said the physical evidence collected inside the home contradicted the suicide narrative Hernandez had allegedly presented to others.
Hernandez's Account to Detectives
In a post-Miranda interview, Hernandez told detectives he returned home from work around 11:00 p.m. on 27 December, showered, and went to bed next to Lopez-Racancoj, who he claimed was already asleep. He said he later woke to feed their crying child and returned to bed, only to realise hours later that she was cold and 'obviously deceased'.
Hernandez claimed he did not call emergency services because he was in shock and feared being blamed.
He suggested Lopez-Racancoj may have killed herself and alleged she had been harassed by another man. He declined to discuss any injuries she may have suffered and told police the scratches on his body were self-inflicted.
Online Searches and Criminal Charges
Rather than contacting authorities, police say Hernandez wrapped the victim's body in a blanket, hid it under the bed, and later conducted Google searches about how to dispose of a body.
Hernandez has been charged with three counts of murder, including first-degree murder after deliberation, first-degree murder with extreme indifference, and second-degree murder. He also faces a charge of tampering with a deceased human body.
He is currently being held in Summit County Jail on a $5 million (£3.6 million) bond. Court records did not immediately indicate when he is scheduled to next appear before a judge.
