Source: Office of United States Attorneys
SAN DIEGO – Half-brothers Christopher Baltezar Hernandez and Victor Armondo Aguilar were sentenced in federal court today to six consecutive life terms and 45 years, respectively, for the premeditated execution of their sister, her three children – ages 9, 8 and 4 – and her significant other in their Tijuana home. The siblings had been involved in a bitter dispute over property prior to the murder.
“I cannot understand how one can point a gun in front of a child’s face and pull the trigger,” U.S. District Judge Linda Lopez told the defendants during the sentencing hearing. She described the murders as “horrific,” “completely incomprehensible,” and “cold, intentional, planned, calculated, and callous.”
Aguilar, of Tijuana, pleaded guilty in October 2023 and Hernandez, of Fresno, California, pleaded guilty in December 2023, each to a single count of conspiring to murder a U.S. citizen in a foreign country and five counts of stalking resulting in death. The half-brothers are U.S. citizens. The sister and her children were also U.S. citizens; the significant other was a Mexican national.
According to their plea agreements, on December 3, 2021, the day of the murders, Hernandez traveled from Fresno to Tijuana through San Diego, armed with an assault rifle, .223 caliber ammunition, and two revolver speed loaders. Hernandez met up with Aguilar in Tijuana, where they acquired a revolver.
The half-brothers, armed with the firearms and wearing dark clothes and gloves, went to the victims’ residence in Tijuana. According to the plea agreements, which identified the victims by their initials, the defendants first shot and killed the sister, J.H., and her eight-year-old daughter, A.M.M., in the kitchen. The significant other, G.M.V., was shot and killed in a bedroom while he attempted to shield the other two children. The bedroom door was forced open and nine-year-old A.M. and four-year-old S.M. were each shot in the head.
“Borders do not shield criminals from justice when Americans are victimized abroad,” said U.S. Attorney Tara McGrath. “These executioners were charged, convicted, and held to account in a U.S. court. The Department of Justice will continue to use every available tool to protect Americans from harm at home and abroad.”
“Jealousy and greed led to one family’s devastating loss of five loved ones,” said FBI San Diego Special Agent in Charge Stacey Moy. “Hernandez’s and Aguilar’s well-deserved prison sentences reflect their total disregard for human life. While their imprisonment will never bring back these lives, we hope it offers some peace to the victims’ family. The FBI, alongside our local and international law enforcement partners, remains dedicated to seeking justice and will not hesitate to hold accountable those involved in violent crimes, whether in the United States or abroad.”
While there were likely multiple motivations for the murders, the primary reason was a dispute over the ownership of numerous properties in Mexico. According to court documents, in the months leading up to the murders, the sister retained an attorney to help in the property dispute, which prompted Hernandez to text her: “We already know about the lawyer.” Hernandez asked, “You think you can just fuck us over and nothing will happen?” Hernandez then mentioned J.H.’s attorney’s name and that he had the attorney “in are[sic] hands.” Hernandez continued to say, “Fuck you and all your family” and, “The truth is I’m not fucking around. You thought you were going to make a dumbass out of me but no. You’re not going to have anything.” Hernandez then challenged J.H. to “…try me and see how much you can handle because with me you’re not going to be able to finish it.”
Hernandez had a long history of threats against his sister and her children. In May 2019, J.H. called 911 stating Hernandez was threatening to shoot her and her kids in the head. Hernandez and J.H. had the same parents; Aguilar and J.H. were half-siblings. It’s unclear if J.H. and her significant other were married.
According to the plea agreements, the murders occurred after months of meticulous and obsessive planning and premeditation. Hernandez and Aguilar had researched the victims’ address and the surrounding area online more than 200 times. Hernandez also bought the parts and built a fully functional .223 caliber assault rifle. The week before, Hernandez researched “ar15 jam clearing” and “ar15 room clearing” and watched ten different videos related to tactical firearms training. Hernandez also researched how to build a hidden compartment in his Toyota Corolla and discussed contingency plans with others, among other preparatory steps. The day before the murders, Hernandez bought a pair of revolver speed loaders, and on the day of the murders, Hernandez and Aguilar acquired a revolver in Tijuana, Mexico.
Aguilar searched for and listened to a podcast related to homicide investigations just hours before the murders. Minutes before the murders, Hernandez removed the SIM card from his phone, and returned it about a half-hour after the murders.
Following the murders, Hernandez researched numerous news articles about the killings and searched, “does the fbi investigate murders.” Hernandez and Aguilar also deleted their location and messaging history.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Mario Peia, Matthew Brehm and Fred Sheppard.
DEFENDANTS Case Number 22cr778-LL
Christopher Baltezar Hernandez Age: 27 Fresno, CA
Victor Armondo Aguilar Age: 22 Tijuana, MX
SUMMARY OF CHARGES
Conspiracy to Murder – Title 18, U.S.C., Section 1117
Maximum penalty: Life in prison
Stalking Resulting in Death – Title 18, U.S.C., Section 2261A
Maximum penalty: Life in prison
INVESTIGATING AGENCIES
Federal Bureau of Investigation
San Diego County Sheriff’s Department