Jury convicts ex-boyfriend of murdering Redwood City woman

(KRON) — A San Mateo County jury convicted an ex-boyfriend of murdering Yesenia Lopez Hernandez in front of her 17-year-old daughter.

On Tuesday, jurors convicted Jose Enrique Uriarte Martinez, 45, of murder for killing Hernandez, and attempted murder for stabbing her teenaged daughter.

Prosecutors said Martinez apologized to his 5-year-old son immediately after murdering his mother in Redwood City. Martinez “ended her life out of jealousy,” Hernandez’s daughter wrote.

The verdict followed a two-week trial. Prosecutors called on 18 witnesses who testified on the stand.

Hernandez, 41, had an active restraining order against Martinez for prior domestic violence. The killer and victim were in a relationship for five years and had a son together, prosecutors said.

In the summer of 2023, the former couple was living in separate apartments and Hernandez told Martinez that she was planning to move away with their young son, prosecutors said.

On July 30, 2023 at 12:30 a.m., Martinez entered his ex-girlfriend’s Redwood City apartment using a key and began attacking her with a knife, prosecutors said. Hernandez’s daughter attempted to defend her mother and Martinez stabbed the girl, according to a GoFundMe Page .

“He stabbed victim in chest, neck and shoulder multiple times and also stabbed victim’s 17-year-old daughter in chest. Defendant went into bedroom, apologized to five-year-old son, and left,” the District Attorney’s Office wrote.

The mother and daughter were still alive and bleeding from stab wounds when sheriff’s deputies arrived at the apartment. Deputies found Martinez walking near the crime scene while he was covered in blood, the DA’s office said.

Hernandez later died at a hospital and her daughter survived.

Martinez will be sentenced on December 13 by Judge Kevin Dunleavy.

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