Yoelin Hernandez-Landa
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CANDID ID: MI_22_4090
AGE
13   years
STATE
Michigan
DATE OF DEATH
5/31/2022
STATE REPORTS
Not Available
SUMMARY OF DEATH
On May 31, 2022, 13-year-old Joelin (Yoelin) Hernandez-Landa was shot and killed in her home on Godfrey Avenue SW in Wyoming, Michigan, by Oscar Moran-Hernandez, 43, the boyfriend of her mother, Liliana Landa-Sanchez. Moran-Hernandez also killed Joelin's 11-year-old sister Ayzy Hernandez-Landa and their mother before turning the gun on himself in an apparent triple murder-suicide. Three other children ages 9, 5, and 2 were in the home but were not physically harmed. The killings were discovered around 4 a.m. after a family member received a concerning call from Moran-Hernandez and then called police. Landa-Sanchez's sister stated that Landa-Sanchez was afraid of Moran-Hernandez and that he would "humiliate and mistreat her constantly." Police described the incident as a devastating example of domestic violence.
Contexts/Conditions

Is there any mention of child drug ingestion or overdose?

Is there any mention of a drowning incident (either intentional or accidental)?

Is there any mention of a firearm incident?

The medical examiner report states the cause of death was "Gunshot wound to head." The WOOD TV news article states police believe Oscar Moran-Hernandez "killed his girlfriend and two of her children before turning the gun on himself."

Is there any mention of inappropriate supervision (e.g., child wandered off and drowned)?

Is there any mention of inflicted injury? (e.g. slapped, punched, kicked, choked)

The medical examiner report (MI_22_4090-1.pdf) states the immediate cause of death was "Gunshot wound to head" and the description of injury reads "Decreased shot by another individual." The news articles confirm the child was shot by Oscar Moran-Hernandez.

Is there any mention of malnutrition, starvation, or dehydration?

Is there any mention of medical neglect?

Is there any mention of a motor vehicle crash or incident?

Is there any mention of a murder-suicide incident?

The WOOD TV article explicitly states: "The apparent triple murder-suicide happened in the early hours of Tuesday." Oscar Moran-Hernandez is believed to have killed the three victims and then himself.

Is there any mention of outdoor elements (including hot car deaths)?

Is there any mention of prenatal substance exposure (including fetal alcohol syndrome or neonatal abstinence syndrome)?

Is there any mention of sexual abuse?

Is there any specific mention of shaken baby or abusive head trauma?

Is there any mention of prolonged abuse or torture (including restraints, captivity)?

Is there any mention of an unsafe sleeping environment?

Individuals Involved

Was an adoptive parent or guardian involved in the death?

Was a biological father involved in the death?

Was a biological mother involved in the death?

Was a day care worker, babysitter, or nanny involved in the death?

Was a female paramour or friend involved in the death (e.g., girlfriend, stepmother)?

Was a foster parent involved in the death?

Was a male paramour or friend involved in the death (e.g., boyfriend, stepfather)?

The WOOD TV article identifies Oscar Moran-Hernandez, 43, as the mother's boyfriend who killed the victims. The article states: "Joelin and Ayzy were Landa-Sanchez's children from a previous relationship." Moran-Hernandez was not the biological father but the mother's male paramour. The WILX article similarly states they were "allegedly shot and killed by her boyfriend."

Was another adult relative involved in the death? (e.g., grandfather, aunt)

Was a sibling involved in the death?

Child Characteristics

Was the child adopted?

Was the child homeschooled (including "cyberschooling") or taken out of school?

Was the child in foster care at the time of the incident?

Was the child living with relatives at the time of the incident (but not parents)?

Is there any mention of a neurological developmental child disability? (e.g., autism, intellectual disability, nonverbal)

Is there any mention of a physical child disability? (e.g., feeding tube)

Is there any mention of prematurity or low birthweight?

Is there a history of child protection reports prior to death (for this child or siblings)?

Does the child have a history of foster care (but not in care at time of incident)?

Is there a history of a sibling death (separate incident from this death)?

Parent/Caregiver Factors

Was an adult charged or arrested for the child's death?

Is domestic violence by the parent/caregiver referenced?

The WOOD TV article includes a statement from Landa-Sanchez's sister: "I believe she was afraid of him… He would humiliate and mistreat her constantly." Additionally, Wyoming DPS Chief Kim Koster stated: "This is a devastating example of domestic violence." The article also notes: "Wyoming has seen a total of six homicides this year and all were related to domestic situations."

Is there any mention that the death occurred in a temporary shelter or while homeless?

Is an intellectual disability of the parent/caregiver referenced?

Is the mental health of the parent/caregiver referenced?

Is a history of arrests or criminal charges for the parent/caregiver referenced?

The WOOD TV article states: "State police records do not show a criminal history for him in Michigan, though Wyoming police previously said he was accused of drunken driving in 2003." The 2003 drunken driving accusation predates the 2022 fatal incident and constitutes a prior criminal history reference.

Is substance use by the parent/caregiver referenced?

The WOOD TV article states that Oscar Moran-Hernandez, who was living in the home and serving in a caregiver role as the mother's boyfriend, "was accused of drunken driving in 2003." A drunken driving accusation implies alcohol use by the caregiver.

Notable Details

Several substantive details are notable: (1) Three other children ages 9, 5, and 2 were in the home during the shooting but were not physically harmed; at least two of those children were children of both Landa-Sanchez and Moran-Hernandez. (2) A guest family from Maryland (Santos Avalos and his family) was sleeping in another room of the house when the shooting occurred. (3) The WOOD TV article reports that all six homicides in Wyoming that year were domestic-related, and the YWCA representative noted a 25-35% increase in domestic violence cases during the COVID pandemic era that had not leveled off. (4) Joelin and her sister attended San Juan Diego Academy, a Catholic school in Wyoming.

Lives Cut Short