Crime
Victims killed in Castle Hayne shooting identified
The New Hanover County Sheriff’s Office (NHCSO) has released further details regarding a tragic domestic violence incident that occurred Sunday morning in Castle Hayne, North Carolina.
Deputies responded to a residence on Bowman Drive around 9:00 a.m. on April 7 following reports of multiple gunshots.
Upon arrival, law enforcement discovered 35-year-old Aurora Rosendo-Ortega deceased from an apparent gunshot wound.
Inside the home, deputies also located 18-year-old Santiago Pacheco-Rosendo, who was suffering from a non-life-threatening gunshot injury.
He was transported to Novant Health New Hanover Regional Medical Center for treatment and has since been released.
During a continued search of the residence, deputies found Avelino Jaimes-Acuna with a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
He was also transported to the hospital, where he later succumbed to his injuries.
According to the NHCSO, the investigation determined that Avelino Jaimes-Acuna forcibly entered the home and fatally shot Aurora Rosendo-Ortega before turning the weapon on himself.
The incident has been classified as a murder-suicide driven by domestic violence.
Authorities confirmed that Jaimes-Acuna and Ortega had previously been in a relationship.
In a statement, NHCSO said:
“Avelino Jaimes-Acuna broke into the home and murdered Aurora Rosendo-Ortega before taking his own life. Santiago Pacheco-Rosendo was shot while attempting to intervene and help Aurora Rosendo-Ortega.”
The sheriff’s office continues to investigate the circumstances surrounding the incident and encourages anyone affected by domestic violence to seek help from local resources.
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.