A man’s future is all but certain after being convicted and sentenced for the “brutal” murder of a business owner in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
Juan Carlos Hernandez, 22, was sentenced to life in prison plus 21 years for the murder of 45-year-old Sihui Fang in January 2022, Bernalillo County District Attorney Sam Bregman announced on Wednesday. Hernandez was convicted by a jury in August 2024 of first-degree murder, armed robbery, kidnapping, and conspiracy.
Hernandez entered Fang’s business, Wonderful Massage, on January 24, 2022, posing as a customer. He then forced her to let his accomplice, Jorge Rivera-Ramirez, in, and the two men proceeded to rob her, CBS affiliate KRQE reported at the time.
Surveillance footage from inside the business captured Hernandez’s actions, which included “grabbing Fang by her hair and dragging her to the back of the building, where the execution-style killing occurred,” according to the district attorney’s office.
Prosecutors claimed Hernandez was the aggressor between the two men in the “planned” robbery. He was 19, and Rivera-Ramirez was 18.
“This is where the violence begins, and Mr. Hernandez never stops being violent, not once,” prosecutor Jordan Machin said during the man’s trial, according to a KRQE video of the man holding Fang at gunpoint.
The surveillance footage showed Fang attempting to flee her captors, but Hernandez drew her back toward him. When she reportedly grabbed a gun to defend herself, the men shot her 18 times.
According to the local outlet, Fang was able to fire her gun before being killed, and Rivera-Ramirez called 911 for medical attention due to gunshot wounds. Hernandez allegedly fled, and he was not booked into the Bernalillo County Metropolitan Detention Center until February 8, 2022, according to court records.
Bregman, the district attorney, announced in April that Rivera-Ramirez had been sentenced to life in prison plus 18 years.
Fang was regarded as “a once-in-a-lifetime incredible human being.”
“This beautiful, amazing person was taken from us when she was killed in a robbery at her business,” according to her funeral notice. “The world has lost the brightest of lights, and we have lost a gentle, caring, loving soul with a heart of gold.” We will hold her in our hearts and miss her forever.”
Hernandez apologized in court, stating that he was “ashamed of my actions but making the first steps as a young man, asking for your sincere forgiveness.”
