Pearland police rule 'no foul play' in death of Houston mom Erica Hernandez

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Friday, July 2, 2021
Police rule 'no foul play' in death of Houston mom
Family and friends searched for the mother of three for nearly a month before she was found in her SUV in a Pearland pond.

PEARLAND, Texas (KTRK) -- After extensive investigation, Pearland police determined no foul play is suspected in the death of Houston mother Erica Hernandez, who died when her SUV crashed into a Pearland pond back in April.

The Galveston County Medical Examiner ruled her cause of death as drowning and the manner of death as accidental.

According to a police report, Hernandez left her friend's home in the 6000 block of Benning Drive around 2:30 a.m. on April 18. She then arrived at another friend's home around 2:58 a.m. and left at 4:05 a.m.

As we're still waiting for the identification of the body found in the vehicle pulled from a Pearland pond, family told ABC13 they're not done.

Hernandez, a single mother to three children, was the subject of an intense search for weeks.

On May 11, her SUV was discovered in the small body of water at Reflection Bay and N. Clear Lake, in Shadow Creek Ranch. The Galveston County Medical Examiner's Office confirmed that the person found inside the vehicle was indeed Hernandez.

WATCH: 'It's not over' Family says after missing mom's car found in pond

The family of Erica Hernandez said they are not done looking for answers in her case, as they said she would not be in the area where a car matching hers was found.

Using video footage, police also confirmed Hernandez took a route consistent with the one she used to go home.

The sister of Hernandez spoke to the media at the site of the discovery saying the family felt numb and sick to their stomach.

SEE ALSO: Vehicle found underwater at Missouri City park is not tied to missing mom Erica Hernandez, HPD says

Investigators said the search for Erica Hernandez led them to a Missouri City park. She has been missing since mid-April and so has her vehicle.