Inset: Elizabeth Hernandez (Miami Dade Corrections & Rehabilitation Center). Background: The Holiday Inn Express hotel near Miami International Airport where Elizabeth Hernandez allegedly killed a man and hid his body under a bed (Google Maps).
A Florida woman allegedly beat, bit, and slashed a man to death inside a Holiday Inn hotel room and then stuffed his naked body underneath a bed, where it was found by a maintenance worker repairing a telephone line.
Elizabeth Hernandez, 39, is charged with first-degree murder, grand theft and fraudulent use of a credit card after she “depleted” Jason Anderson”s account of approximately $6,000 — leaving it with “zero dollars” — after killing him in June 2024, according to a criminal complaint obtained by Law&Crime on Tuesday.
“The victim’s body was discovered by a maintenance employee who responded to the hotel room to repair a telephone line situated behind the hotel bed,” the complaint says. “Upon inspecting the telephone line, the maintenance employee discovered the victim’s body underneath the hotel bed prompting him to contact 911.”
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Police say hotel records show that Anderson checked into the Holiday Inn Express near the Miami International Airport on June 19 with an anticipated check-out date of June 20. Hernandez was allegedly caught on surveillance video checking in with him, along with a man identified as Yoan Guzman-Zequeira, 41.
On June 20, cops say Hernandez was caught on video leaving the hotel premises with Guzman-Zequeira, who has not been arrested or charged.
“They are observed carrying several bags also to include a white/clear plastic bag containing possible bedding sheets and/or towels,” the complaint alleges. “Guzman-Zequeira is observed wearing different clothing than when he arrived at the Holiday Inn the previous day, possibly the victim’s clothing.”
Hernandez had already killed Anderson and stowed him away underneath the bed at this point, according to police, and was proceeding to use his debit card to get money out and make purchases, per cops. She and Guzman-Zequeira went to Casino Miami and met up with another individual who told them he “was tired and wished he knew someone who had a place to stay where he could sleep for a couple hours,” the complaint says.
Guzman-Zequeira and this witness decided to go back to the Holiday Inn to let the witness crash there, but he immediately got spooked upon his arrival, according to police, who spoke to the witness about what happened.
“[The witness] stated that upon entering the room it was completely dirty and in disarray,” the complaint alleges. “[The witness] stated that Yoan Guzman-Zequeira got mad at [the witness] and told him to stop touching things in the room. [The witness] subsequently advised Yoan Guzman-Zequeira that he wished to leave because he felt uncomfortable and they both exited the Holiday Inn property.”
Police say the witness’ statements are corroborated by video evidence obtained from the Holiday Inn surveillance camera footage. After the maintenance worker found Anderson and called 911, investigators showed up and discovered “several blood drops” on the hallway wall and bathroom door frame, per the complaint.
An examination of Anderson’s body revealed blunt force trauma, lacerations to his facial area, and “apparent bite marks,” according to police, along with “hemorrhaging in his neck area.” An autopsy later determined that his cause of death was “homicidal violence.”
The witness, in addition to Guzman-Zequeira, has also not been arrested.
Court records show that Hernandez was being held without bond at the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center.
