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Wife of Man Who Posed as DTE Worker Pleads No Contest in Rochester Hills Murder Case

Her no-contest plea lets a judge determine punishment as prosecutors rely on prior trial exhibits to link her to planning and the cover-up

Overview

  • Amanda Ileana Hernandez, 34, entered a no-contest plea on Wednesday for charges tied to the 2024 Rochester Hills home invasion and will be sentenced on Aug. 12, 2026.
  • She pleaded to conspiracy to commit first-degree home invasion, accessory after the fact, and conspiracy to impersonate a utility worker.
  • Prosecutors say they will use evidence from the earlier trial, including hundreds of text messages and documents showing fake DTE-branded IDs and paperwork, to establish her role in planning and the post-crime cover-up.
  • Two men who posed as DTE workers gained entry to Hussein “Sam” Murray’s home in October 2024 and killed him; Carlos Hernandez and Joshua Zuazo were convicted and sentenced to life without parole in December 2025.
  • Sentencing for Amanda Hernandez could affect how prosecutors pursue accomplice liability in impersonation ruses and offers a measure of closure for the victim’s family while raising public safety concerns about criminals using fake utility credentials.