HOUSTON – A man accused of taking a 3-year-old girl Saturday night has been charged with aggravated kidnapping, according to court documents.
According to officers with the Houston Police Department, the toddler was last seen in the 12800 block of Northborough Drive. She was wearing long-sleeve purple pajamas at the time.
Police said the last time the parents saw the girl was around 11 p.m. when she reportedly escaped from the apartment and walked upstairs to a neighbor’s home, where a gathering was taking place. After the gathering, everyone left.
The parents said they woke up around 5 a.m. and noticed their daughter was missing and the front door was open.
Officers who responded to the scene began questioning residents.
A witness reported seeing the child leave with a man who was at the gathering. HPD listed the man, who was identified as 50-year-old Holman Hernandez as a person of interest.
The man’s wife allegedly called the police, claiming that her husband called and told her that his car was stolen. The woman also said, while speaking to her husband, she heard a little’s girl voice, along with the voice of another woman.
Law enforcement officers said they located the suspect’s gray 2007 Nissan Xterra near Scottish Inns and Suites off West Rankin Road. Police said they found the suspect inside a room with the girl.
According to the child’s mother, Oneida Hernandez, a video shows the suspect calling out to the child and luring her into his vehicle with a cat.
The mother of four said she hopes the suspect stays in jail.
“Give him the maximum time for taking my daughter,” she said in Spanish.
During Hernandez’s court appearance on Monday, authorities said he was found in the motel on the bed wearing only a pair of boxers while the child was wearing only a diaper and t-shirt.
CHARGED: Booking photo of Holman Hernandez, 50, now charged with aggravated kidnapping in yesterday's #AMBERAlert.
— Houston Police (@houstonpolice) August 22, 2022
The 3 year-old victim was successfully reunited with her family yesterday afternoon.#hounews#OneSafeHouston https://t.co/BKuKgv4Ymc pic.twitter.com/pAEoYO1m5w
Police said the child and the suspect are not related. Hernandez was booked into the Harris County Jail. His bond is currently set at $1 million.
Hernandez cannot have any contact with the girl, no possession of firearms, no use of alcohol or drugs, he will only be able to travel to Harris County and he will be subject to wearing an ankle monitor and must surrender his passport.