Inset: Elizabeth Hernandez (Miami Dade Corrections & Rehabilitation Center). Background: The Holiday Inn Express hotel near Miami International Airport where Elizabeth Hernandez is accused of killing a man and concealing his body under a bed (Google Maps).
A woman from Florida is accused of brutally beating, biting, and stabbing a man to death in a hotel room at a Holiday Inn. She then allegedly hid the man’s unclothed body beneath a bed, where it was later discovered by a maintenance worker fixing a telephone line.
Elizabeth Hernandez, aged 39, faces charges of first-degree murder, grand theft, and fraudulent use of a credit card. It’s alleged she drained about $6,000 from Jason Anderson’s account, leaving it completely empty, after killing him in June 2024, according to a criminal complaint accessed by Law&Crime on Tuesday.
“The victim’s body was found by a maintenance worker who entered the room to repair a phone line behind the bed,” states the complaint. “During the inspection, the worker uncovered the victim’s body hidden under the bed and immediately reported it to 911.”
Authorities report that hotel records indicate Anderson checked into the Holiday Inn Express near Miami International Airport on June 19, planning to leave on June 20. Hernandez was reportedly seen on surveillance footage entering the hotel with him, along with another man named 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.
“The video shows them carrying several bags, including a white or clear plastic bag possibly containing bedding or towels,” the complaint details. “Guzman-Zequeira is seen in different attire than that worn when he initially arrived at the hotel, possibly wearing the victim’s clothes.”
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.
