Missing Since: 2005-07-04 Location: Jerome, Idaho
Rodriguez-Hernandez was last seen in Jerome, Idaho on July 4, 2005. He left his home for work at 8:30 a.m. He was later seen leaving his place of work, the Bettencourt Dairy, at 4:30 p.m., which is his normal departure time, but his employer stated he did not work that day. He has never been heard from again. At the time of his disappearance, Rodriguez-Hernandez was driving a two-tone blue 1987 GMC pickup truck with the Idaho license plate number 2J 13769 and the vehicle identification number 1GTEV14K8HJ520364. It was found abandoned in the parking lot of a Wal-Mart store in Las Vegas, Nevada two weeks later. It had been wiped clean of fingerprints and everything, including coins Rodriguez-Hernandez kept in the truck cab and tools from the toolbox, was gone. He also left behind his paycheck, wedding ring, clothing and Chevrolet Camaro. A person told Rodriguez-Hernandez’s stepdaughter that a man at the dairy had shot Rodriguez-Hernandez in the back of the head, rolled his body up in a carpet, and drove away with the body in the back of Rodriguez-Hernandez’s own pickup truck. A death certificate has been issued for him; the cause of death was given as a gunshot wound to the head. He is described as a reliable person, and his disappearance is uncharacteristic. Although police are investigating his case as a possible homicide, they are also looking into the theory that he left the country voluntarily. His case remains unsolved. Investigating Agency Jerome County Sheriff’s Office 208-324-8845 Source Information Idaho Missing Persons Clearinghouse Jerome County Sheriff’s Office KMVT NamUs The Magic Valley Times-News East Idaho Cold Cases Updated 5 times since October 12, 2004. Last updated March 10, 2021; details of disappearance updated.