'Foul play' suspected in Renton business owner's disappearance

RENTON, Wash. — Detectives in Renton suspect foul play in the disappearance of a 54-year-old woman who was reported missing last week.

According to the Renton Police Department (RPD), Reyna Hernandez, 54, left her home in the Renton Highlands on Feb. 26 to run errands and never returned.

Hernandez’s friends reported her missing on Feb. 28 after they became concerned when she had not returned home, answered her phone or returned to work at Reyna Hair Salon, the hair salon she owns.

In an update Tuesday morning, the RPD said detectives had served multiple search warrants in the past several days and followed up on leads. The department said a friend reported he last spoke to Hernandez between 10–10:30 a.m. on Feb. 26 as she was running errands. She had reportedly told her friend that she was going to a home in south Renton.

Investigators said Tuesday that evidence collected during search warrants “indicates that Ms. Hernandez was taken against her will.” Investigators do not believe Hernandez’s car is currently in the area.

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The RPD said detectives were in contact with Hernandez’s family and friends, who said they still have not heard from her, “which is highly unusual.”

Hernandez is about 6 feet tall, weighs around 210 pounds, and has black hair and hazel eyes. Investigators said she normally drives a white/maroon Ford Flex with Washington plates: APR9503.

German Sahagun, whose family owns the Mexican restaurant next door to Hernandez’s salon, said she is a frequent customer of theirs.

“She used to cut my hair," Sahagun said he’s known Hernandez for 10 years.

“She’s very outspoken, loud, friendly. She’d always say hello to me, every time I would see her,” Sahagun said that Hernandez is well liked by those in the area.

The last time Sahagun saw Hernandez was two days before her disappearance. She sat in a corner booth with two of her female friends. This time, Sahagun noticed something different.

“She was kind of quiet that day, which I thought was kind of odd. Usually, she would say my nickname, she would call me Roman as a nickname. That day, she didn't really respond to me. I said hello to her first, which she usually says hi to me first. I noticed was kind of odd," he said.

Meeghan Black, spokesperson for the police department, said that Hernandez used to live at the home that she was going to in South Renton on the day of her disappearance.

Police will not say at this time, what street this home is on and what specific evidence they have found.

Black stated that three men live at the home. They’ve spoken to two of the men and are still trying to speak with another. Efforts to speak with that person have been unsuccessful. Hernandez knew those who lived at the home, according to Black.

Black said that Hernandez’s family has traveled to Washington, from Mexico, as the investigation continues.

No persons of interest or suspects have been named yet.

"She is not responding to anyone’s inquiries, highly unusual behavior. We are working on the assumption that she is just fine, that she is perhaps not communicating for one reason or another. We want to contact her. We want to ensure that that’s the case,” Black said.

Officials said her car has not been found and her cell phone is turned off.

Renton Police are asking for any information the public might have, to help them find Hernandez.

No other information is available at this time.