A convicted murderer who escaped custody during a court transport in Delano in early December and who now is believed to be in Mexico is the target of a Valley Crime Stoppers $25,000 reward.

Cesar Moises Hernandez, sentenced in 2019 to 80 years to life for first-degree murder, evaded staff and jumped out of a transport van shortly after arriving at the Kern County courthouse on Monday, Dec. 2, 2024.

He had been scheduled to appear in court after pleading no contest to manufacturing a weapon and possessing alcohol or drugs while in prison.

Valley Crime Stoppers and California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation are urging the public to help locate Hernandez, who was recently reported to have been involved in a deadly shooting with law enforcement in Tijuana, Mexico.

Valley Crime Stoppers said that there was an officer was killed during an exchange of gunfire.

Anyone with information about Hernandez’s whereabouts is urged to contact Crime Stoppers at (559) 498-STOP, text the word VALLEY to 738477, or visit www.valleycrimestoppers.org.

All tips remain anonymous and could result in a cash reward of up to $25,000.

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