Watsonville man suspected of killing wife believed to have left the country

WATSONVILLE, Calif. (KION) The Watsonville Police Department is looking for a man suspected of killing his wife, and they said they now believe he has left the country.

Police are looking for 47-year-old Cesar Hernandez, who is a citizen of Mexico.

Last week, Hernandez's wife, 24-year-old Brenda Becerra, was reported missing after Hernandez dropped their children off at a family member's home at around 2 a.m., and her body was found about 10 hours later in the couple's car on Mission Drive.

Becerra worked at Dominican Hospital, and Dignity Health said in a statement:

"Dominican Hospital is deeply saddened to learn of the loss of one of our own. Our hearts go out to the family and friends of Brenda Becerra. We mourn her with them."

Police are still trying to find out how Hernandez left because the car is the only one the family owned.

Since Becerra's body was found on Thursday, police said they have been working around the clock collecting evidence, gathering surveillance footage and interviewing witnesses. The department is currently working with the Santa Cruz County District Attorney's Office to file formal murder charges against Hernandez.

Anyone with information is asked to call Det. Pablo Andrade at 831-768-3354 and reference case 20W-03761.