Crime
New Orleans jail inmate Khalil Bryan released by mistake
NEW ORLEANS — The Orleans Parish Sheriff’s Office has confirmed that 30-year-old inmate Khalil Bryan was mistakenly released from custody due to a clerical error, according to Superintendent Anne Kirkpatrick.
The erroneous release occurred as a result of a misidentification involving two individuals with similar last names, officials said.
Bryan was not scheduled for release at the time, and his accidental discharge has now prompted an internal investigation.
In a formal statement, Orleans Parish Sheriff Susan Hutson accepted full responsibility for the incident, stating:
“The Orleans Parish Sheriff’s Office takes full responsibility for the clerical error that led to the mistaken release of Khalil Bryan, and we offer our sincere apology to the public, our law enforcement partners, and the court. This incident was the result of human error: a misidentification based on a shared last name between two individuals. We are currently conducting a full internal investigation, and I can confirm that disciplinary actions will occur.”
Sheriff Hutson further noted that Mr. Bryan is facing a combination of violent and non-violent charges, and that law enforcement agencies are working diligently to locate and apprehend him.
She confirmed that victims associated with Bryan’s criminal charges have been notified, and emphasized that new safeguards are being implemented to prevent future errors of this nature.
Bryan was previously held on charges including:
- Illegal possession of stolen property
- Possession of drug paraphernalia
- Resisting an officer
- Aggravated assault with a firearm
- Domestic abuse child endangerment
- Home invasion
Additionally, Bryan was being detained on a separate warrant issued by Jefferson Parish.
The New Orleans Police Department, Louisiana Attorney General’s Office, and the presiding judge in the case have all been notified of the mistaken release.
Efforts to locate and return Bryan to custody are actively ongoing.
Superintendent Kirkpatrick is expected to hold a press conference addressing the incident and outlining corrective actions being taken by the Orleans Parish Sheriff’s Office.
This incident follows a troubling pattern at the facility. On May 16, ten inmates escaped from the Orleans Parish Jail.
All but one, Derrick Groves, have since been recaptured.
Further updates on Bryan’s recapture and the internal investigation will be provided as they become available.
Crime
Noemi Hernandez, Mother of Four Murdered By Her Husband Hector Luvianos Two Days Before Christmas
BATAVIA, Ill. — A devastating domestic homicide has left a family and community in mourning just days before Christmas.
Noemi Hernandez, a devoted mother of four, was fatally attacked in the early morning hours of Tuesday, Dec. 23, in what prosecutors allege was a violent act committed by her husband.
The incident occurred at an apartment building in the 100 block of Church Street in Batavia.
According to court records and police reports, at approximately 4:37 a.m., Batavia police were dispatched after a man contacted emergency dispatchers and stated that he had killed his wife.
Responding officers located the man outside the apartment building and took him into custody without incident.
When officers entered the apartment, they found Hernandez suffering from severe, life-threatening injuries.
First responders immediately attempted life-saving measures; however, she was pronounced dead at the scene.
Authorities identified the suspect as Hector B. Luvianos, 37, who was transported to the Batavia Police Department for questioning.
With assistance from the Kane County Major Crimes Task Force, investigators determined the incident was domestic-related and involved only the two individuals. Police emphasized that there is no ongoing threat to the public.
On Dec. 24, 2025, Kane County State’s Attorney Jamie L. Mosser and Batavia Police Chief Eric Blowers announced that Luvianos has been formally charged with first-degree murder, a Class M felony under Illinois law.
He appeared in court the same day for a pretrial detention hearing, after which a judge ordered him held in the Kane County Jail while the case proceeds.
The Kane County Coroner’s Office responded to the scene, and an autopsy is scheduled to determine the official cause and manner of Hernandez’s death.
In the wake of the tragedy, Hernandez’s family has launched a GoFundMe campaign to help cover funeral and related expenses.
In the fundraiser, the family described Noemi as “the heart of her family,” noting that she worked tirelessly, loved deeply, and always placed her children first. Her sudden death, they wrote, has left the family emotionally devastated and financially unprepared.
As an immigrant family with limited resources and no life insurance, they now face the burden of funeral and cremation costs, legal fees, and other unexpected expenses, all while supporting four children grieving the loss of their mother.
The family is asking for community support to allow them to lay Noemi to rest with dignity and focus on healing rather than financial hardship.
The investigation remains ongoing.