Fugitive Captured After 42 Years on the Run for Yonkers Robbery

A Long-Awaited Return

In a dramatic turn of events, Noel Jo Hernandez, a former Yonkers resident, found himself back in a Westchester courtroom on Monday, 42 years after failing to appear for his sentencing related to a 1981 robbery. The now 65-year-old pleaded not guilty to charges of bail jumping, marking a significant chapter in a case that has lingered for decades.

The Crime and Conviction

The incident in question occurred in January 1981, when Hernandez, then just 21, was involved in a knifepoint street robbery that resulted in the theft of a watch and cash from a victim. Following a jury trial in 1982, he was convicted on multiple robbery charges. When he failed to show up for sentencing, he was sentenced in absentia to 6 2/3 to 20 years in prison, and a warrant was issued for his arrest.

A 42-Year Chase

Hernandez evaded capture for over four decades, with speculation that he had fled to Nicaragua. His journey took a turn when he was detained in El Paso, Texas, in December 2022, but due to overcrowding in holding facilities, he was released without federal authorities checking for the outstanding warrant. It wasn't until February 2023 that Homeland Security contacted Westchester authorities about the active warrant.

Final Capture and Next Steps

The Westchester Warrant-Fugitive Unit collaborated with federal agencies, leading to Hernandez’s arrest by the U.S. Marshal's Fugitive Task Force in Miami on July 9. After resisting extradition, he was finally brought back to Westchester, where he remains held without bail. He is scheduled to return to court on November 1, as prosecutors review his case for possible sentencing.