UPDATE: Andrea’s mother, Claudia, is trying to get a VISA so she can come from Mexico to participate in her daughter’s funeral service. Getting a VISA is no easy task but I have put her sister in touch with Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez’ office. Pray that they will find a way to make this happen!
The O.C. Register reported on Dec. 2, that “An 18-year-old woman found hanging from a tree at Santiago Park has been identified as Andrea Hernandez, authorities said Friday.”
The Register didn’t report much else – and they didn’t follow up on the story. It bothered me that this young resident of our city left us in that way – and her story has not been told.
Today I visited the site where she was found and saw that a memorial had been set up for her, with flowers, a teddy bear and notes and pictures taped to a tree. It is heartbreaking.
At 18, Andrea was a few years younger than my own daughter and a year younger than my oldest son. You could see from the pictures that she was happy at one time . And we know she left behind friends and family, from the comments left at the Register’s article.
I contacted one of the commenters, Jennifer Donna Garcia, who told me that Andrea’s family is having a tough time paying for her burial costs. Click here to access Jennifer’s Facebook page if you want to find out how to contribute to Andrea’s family.
I still don’t know what happened to Andrea – I spoke to two of her friends but they both work nights, like many young people in Santa Ana. But I do know that she was loved and her passing was deeply felt by those who knew her and who are mourning her now.
I gathered from the comments left on the Register article that she may have been in foster care at some point in time. If so, that is a lot to go through. The Olive Crest Foundation does a great job helping local foster kids but their needs are many and once they turn 18, they can end up on their own.
The holidays can be tough for those who are struggling. If you know someone who is having a tough time, you can find suicide prevention resources offered here in Orange County, by clicking here. Please keep Andrea’s friends and family in your prayers.
I remember reading when this story came out in the Register, and I was also kind of surprised that they didn’t really follow up on the story. I’m not sure why there’s this need of wanting to know Andrea’s story, except that maybe knowing is a way to pay respect to a life cut so drastically short.
Thanks for following up on it and helping to get Andrea’s story told.
Thank you. I should clarify – I am interested in knowing more about who Andrea was, not what led to her end. We are all mortal. One way or another we will all one day meet our end too.
There is more to us than our last moments – and I believe there was more to Andrea than what was reported by the Register. May she rest in peace…
“We are all mortal. One way or another we will all one day meet our end too”…… Hmmmmm
This is the only reason why I am against the Death Penalty.
Not because it is, allegedly, cruel and unusual punishment.
If that would be true the life itself would be a cruel and unusual punishment too because it is precursor to death.
Interesting take. I am against the death penalty because it is barbaric and we as a nation ought to be better than that. Plus it costs a fortune due to legal challenges. Just not worth it.
“I am against the death penalty because it is barbaric and we as a nation ought to be better than that”….. Hmmmm
If that would be a reason, I would be for it because the death penalty is very efficient way how to protect nation against evil.
In my comment I was focusing on a deterrent factor of it.
By definition, there is none!
You should notify her actual FAMILY. Not the so-called friends that were the ones that led her down a dark path.
Perhaps Genesis you can help with that as I have not been able to track down her family. My email address is editor@newsantaana.com. Thank you.
You saw the tree. You read the papers short story.
There is a void in what has been reported.
It doesn’t add up.
These tragedies rarely “add up.”
@genesis hernandez why do you say her friends lead her to this. You clearly have no c clue. Her friends did not do this to her. It was a choice and a choice we wished she eould have never choosen. Think before you post any stupid comments like this.
I knew Andrea at school although we weren’t close friends we ate lunch in the same group of friends almost everyday she was such a sweet funny girl to be around and will trull be missed <3333
Katelyn’s right. We hung with her at lunch last year and she was a great girl who did have issues with home life but I never saw this coming. Shell be deeply missed and she needs to be remembered for the good times not the bad. Xoxo and for everyone making assumptions you did not know her and please do not put down her friends . It’s not fair to this girl who is missed and loved by all her friends.
Genesis you have no right to blame her friends most of her friends were there for her trying to help her out i agree she might of had those bad people she hung out with that led her the wrong path. A friend could only do so much but its on the person if they really wanted to make a change . i was really close to andrea for a period of time. you cant blame a friend . because wrong people she might of been hanging around with are not called friends .
She will be missed by all
Well today i went to visit her, and it hurts me that i am unable to help at this time. She was my friend through other friends because she was a bit younger than I. She had touched my heart and my life though. I miss her so very much, and was wondering where exactly this happened. A group of friends had told me, but not too many details and not where. I had left town and didnt know. I wish I could go back and have been a better friend to her, I apologize.
I know this tragedy happened in 2011but here i sit today a mother of a son…a son named andrew delacruz who lived near this park when staying with his dad..who also died by the same way. Unfortunately his story was never told at all. My son passed away last year Nov 26th 2018 by suicide by hanging. He was found behind a church on garden grove blvd and lewis. My son was a good kid and had loved boxing. He boxed at the old santa ana boxing gym on 4th but unfortunately met the wrong group of people in which drugs became a big issue as well came mental issues due to the drug use. Andrew would have
been almost 21 yrs old. Suicide has become an epidemic lately with our young adult children as well as alot more in todays time. What a horrible place and time our day and age has become. RIP ANDREW DELACRUZ 1/8/98-11/26/2018
So sorry for your loss! I lost my only brother to suicide as well. He was bipolar and was about the same age as your son when he passed.
May God bring comfort to you and your family.