SANTA CRUZ—The Watsonville man accused of killing his wife, and then leaving her body in a vehicle near where she worked in Santa Cruz, made his second appearance in Santa Cruz County Superior Court Thursday, where he pleaded not guilty.
Cesar Antonio Hernandez, 47, is being held in Santa Cruz County Jail without bail.
He allegedly fled to Mexico after killing 24-year-old Brenda Becerra. Police say she died from blunt force head injuries, and mechanical asphyxia, meaning she was strangled.
Becerra was reported missing at 3am on Oct. 15, about a half-hour after Hernandez dropped off the couple’s two young children with family members in Watsonville.
Hernandez was arrested returning to the U.S. after crossing into Mexico, but it is still unclear how he got there or why he returned.
Becerra’s relatives described Hernandez as a “monster” who was verbally and mentally abusive to her.
The investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information is asked to call Det. Pablo Andrade at 768-3354 or the WPD anonymous tip line at 768-3544.
