Two people charged in connection with man found dead at Nashville junkyard

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WSMV) – The mystery surrounding a murder victim found in a vehicle at a Nashville junkyard last December has been solved, according to the Metro Nashville Police Department.

Police said 38-year-old Jose Pablo Zavala was indicted by the Davidson County grand jury on charges of first-degree murder in the death of 58-year-old Orlando Hernandez.

Zavala was arrested Friday night in Dallas, Texas.

Police said 31-year-old Rosa Carol Torres was also charged in the case. She is accused of tampering with evidence and desecration of a corpse, police said. She is in custody in Wilson County.

Hernandez was found dead by a towing company employee in South Nashville on Dec. 27 of last year, police said. His body was hidden in the back seat of his Chevrolet Blazer, which had been towed from 52 Tusculum Road on Dec. 15 at the request of the rental company, which believed the car was abandoned.

After months of investigation by police detective Kyle Eicholtz, he said the crime may have been drug-related.

Police believe Zavala killed Hernandez at a residence in the 3700 block of N. Natchez Court and placed his body in the back seat of his SUV at 52 Tusculum Road. Torres allegedly helped dispose of the body.

Police said Zavala will be brought back to Nashville from Texas in the near future.

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