Crime & Safety

N.J. Man Raped City Woman, Kidnapped Her and Child: Police

Police found the alleged kidnapper and his victims at his Garfield, N.J. home; extradition to Pennsylvania sought by authorities.

This post was written and reported by Jack Tobias.

A New Jersey man beat and raped a Bethlehem woman—his ex-girlfriend—then kidnapped her and their 11-month old son Thursday and drove to his home, where police found them and arrested the man, according to court records.

Frederick Hernandez, 21, of Garfield told the woman “multiple times” while driving that he “wanted her dead so that he could live a happy life with just the baby,” court records say.

Before leaving Bethlehem, the woman ran away from Hernandez with the boy in her arms, but Hernandez caught her, “violently” grabbed her by the hair and took the boy from her, the records say.

The woman also was able to write a note before leaving. Hernandez did not see it.

”He broke my phone … help ... call Fred’s … kidnapped, raped me,” the note reads.

Family members discovered the woman and the infant were missing, as were some of their belongings, when they went to the home about 10:30 p.m. and also found the note, Bethlehem police said.

A criminal complaint filed by Bethlehem Det. Christopher Beebe describes how Hernandez became “irritated” because the woman rejected his “desire to resume a romantic relationship.”

He arrived at the South Bethlehem residence around 4:30pm to see his son and ex-girlfriend.

The complaint also says:

  • Hernandez, a big man at 6-feet-2 and 220 pounds, beat the woman in the basement and the woman, fearing the beating would continue, “reluctantly” had sex with him “against her will.”
  • He then took her to a bedroom, where he ripped off her clothes and forced himself upon her. When they were interrupted by noises “outside,” Hernandez kicked her twice in the abdomen and told her she and the boy were going with him to New Jersey.
  • After writing the note, she unsuccessfully tried to run away with the boy. Fearing Hernandez would do more harm to her – and possibly to the boy – she agreed to go with him to Garfield, about 87 miles from Bethlehem.
  • Hernandez would not let her retrieve the infant’s child-safety seat. He forced her to strap the boy into a vehicle seat with a standard seat belt.
Bethlehem police filed charges early Friday with on-duty District Judge Robert Hawke of Lehigh Township. Hernandez was in a New Jersey jail awaiting extradition.

The charges are two counts each of kidnapping and unlawful restraint and one count each of rape, endangering the welfare of children, simple assault and terroristic threats.


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