Peñitas sends out alert for missing teen

Person of interest said to have violent tendencies

Monday afternoon, the city of Peñitas issued a missing person’s report for 16-year-old Kimberly Silva, who went missing Sunday night. Luis Fernando Hernandez, a 25-year-old from Pharr, is a current person of interest according to the city police department.

Kimberly Silva, photo courtesy of city of Penitas.

Investigator Oscar Barron said that Kimberly left her home in the middle of the night. “We’re thinking she left the house around midnight last night,” said Barron.

Hernandez and Kimberly have had prior contact and an assumed established romantic relationship. Barron said that revealed information states that the 25-year-old has violent tendencies.

Kimberly’s mother, Guadalupe Silva, said past occurrences with Hernandez leads her to believe that he has her daughter.

Last month, according to Guadalupe, Hernandez kidnapped her daughter from Juarez-Lincoln High School after posing as an 18-year-old.

The mother said that this happened after Hernandez and Kimberly met on Facebook, where the person of interest told her he was eighteen.

Luis Fernando Hernandez, photo courtesy of Hidalgo County.

According to the Hidalgo County Public Access Criminal & Civil Cases website, Hernandez has been arrested for fleeing an officer and reckless driving in December 2022.

“We want to locate her as soon as possible to prevent anything from happening,” Barron said. “They [her family] are all looking for her right now.”

Guadalupe said that for her daughter to leave willingly is unlike her.

“I know what kind of a daughter I have,” Guadalupe said. “I’m just so [desperate] at the moment.”

If you or anyone you know has information regarding their whereabouts, please contact the Peñitas Police Department at 956-999-8310.