Connecticut

Father Who Sparked Amber Alert Was Deported in 2013: ICE

What to Know

  • Police responded to a home on Greenwood Street in Bridgeport Friday morning to investigate a stabbing and found one woman dead and one hurt.
  • The woman's 6-year-old daughter, Aylin Sofia Hernandez, and the little girl's father were missing so police issued an Amber Alert.
  • Police found the father and daughter in Pennsylvania hours later and took him into custody. Police say he tried to flee from troopers.

A 6-year-old Bridgeport, Connecticut, girl who was the subject of a multistate Amber Alert was found in Pennsylvania after a high-speed chase and crash involving a car driven by her father, the fugitive suspect in double stabbing, according to police.

Pennsylvania State Police say Aylin Sofia Hernandez suffered minor injuries in the crash at about 11 a.m. Friday on Interstate 99 in Benner Township. Her father, 39-year-old Oscar Hernandez, was taken into custody and brought to a hospital for treatment of injuries. Two state troopers suffered minor injuries.

Oscar Hernandez, an El Salvador national, is a convicted felon who was deported from the U.S. in 2013, Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials tell NBC Connecticut.

The amber alert was issued around 2:45 a.m. Friday after officers responded to the girl's Greenwood Street home and found her mother dead in a grisly, blood-covered scene that police called "horrendous." 

PHOTOS: Girl Reported Missing from Bridgeport Found in Pennsylvania

Aylin’s mother, 26-year-old Nidia Gonzalez, had been stabbed and was pronounced dead at the scene. Gonzalez's friend, who police have not identified, had been stabbed about 14 times. She was taken to St. Vincent Medical Center and is listed in critical but stable condition. Police said they believe she will survive her injuries.

Oscar Hernandez was named a suspect.

Police received a tip that the father and daughter were in New York, and expanded the Amber Alert.

Around 11:15 a.m., a Pennsylvania State trooper spotted the car on I-99 and tried to pull it over, police said. Oscar Hernandez led officers on a chase before crashing into a tractor-trailer, causing a pursuing trooper's vehicle to crash into his car, police said. 

Police said the girl and the state trooper sustained minor injuries to her head and leg. The trooper was transported to the hospital to be treated for minor injuries.

Police are now working with the state Department of Children and Families to reunite the girl with other family members.

"Our hearts go out to the family of the deceased and the other young woman that was assaulted. We are concerned for the little girl, and frankly we're also concerned for the father of the little girl," Bridgeport Police Chief Armando J. Perez, said during a news conference Friday morning. 

"This is the ugly, ugly side of domestic violence," Perez added, noting that he has "full confidence" in the Bridgeport Police Department and detective bureau to find Hernandez. 

Bridgeport Mayor Joseph Ganim also spoke during the news conference, calling the incident a "terrible tragedy." 

The Connecticut Coalition Against Domestic Violence also issued a statement.

"We are saddened that another life has been taken because of domestic violence, but are grateful that the victim's daughter has been found," Karen Jarmoc, chief executive officer of CT Coalition Against Domestic Violence, said in a statement. "We urge everyone to be vigilant of the signs that abusive behaviors may be escalating towards fatal violence. We want the public to know that our 18 member organizations are here to help by providing safe, confidential and free services across the state, 24 hours per day, 7 days per week."

The investigation is in the early stages, but police believe the two victims had gone out, arrived home late and an argument ensued. 

Police said they had not responded to the home for domestic incidents in the past, but a protective order had been issued against Oscar Hernandez, who was accused of assaulting another female.

Oscar Hernandez's cousin said through tears that he does not know why his cousin did what he's accused of.

He said he's glad that police found Aylin safe and described Oscar as a great dad who has other children, a "great person" and a great cook.

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