The Teen Who Wanted to be a Serial Killer

Michael Hernandez was 14-years-old when he found himself obsessed with serial killers. He spent most of his free time online looking up serial killers and their horrific crimes. His obsession with serial killers turned sinister and Hernandez decided he wanted to follow in the footsteps of the world's most evil people.

Hernandez was stopped before he became a serial killer but sadly, he did claim the life of one person at Southwold Middle School in Palmetto Bay, Florida, where he attended classes.

The Journey to Becoming a Serial Killer

It was February 3, 2004. Hernandez decided to begin his journey to become a serial killer when he armed himself with a knife, pair of gloves, and an oversized jacket before heading to school that morning. He hoped this murder would be the first of many to come.

Hernandez had a victim in mind, but his plans were foiled when the teenager declined his offer to “look at something” in the boy’s bathroom. The teen later told detectives he felt something was off when Hernandez asked him to go into the bathroom.

Determined to commit murder, Hernandez confronted his friend and fellow classmate with the same offer to “look at something” in the boy’s bathroom. Sadly, 14-year-old Jamie Gough accepted the offer and followed Hernandez into the bathroom.

Gough considered Hernandez his friend. He trusted his friend, never suspecting he would hurt him. Sadly, Gough’s trusting nature cost him his life. Once inside the bathroom, the boys walked into the wheelchair-accessible stall. Hernandez told his friend to turn around, then attacked Gough from the back, stabbing him a total of 42 times. After the brutal stabbing, Hernandez then slit Gough’s throat.

Hernandez Returns to Class

Hernandez placed the knife in the backpack, removed the gloves and stuffed them beside the knife, then went to class as usual. A teacher noticed Hernandez’s hands were covered in blood about the same time faculty discovered the body of Jamie Gough.

Staff called police who took Hernandez into custody a short time later. They discovered the knife in the backpack while at the station. During a search of Hernandez's home, they found his journal containing a “kill list.”

The “Kill list” named numerous people Hernandez planned to murder. Among the names on the list was that of his very own sister. He listed the method of murder he planned to use beside each name.

Another journal entry also contained a detailed list of items Hernandez needed to complete this “murder kit.”

Life in Prison; Death

Hernandez pleaded “not guilty by reason of insanity,” but the court rejected the plea. He was sentenced to life in prison in 2008. Hernandez died on April 29, 2021, while serving his time at Columbia Correctional Facility. His cause of death was listed as “cardiac dysrhythmia attributed to morbid obesity.” He was 31-years-old.

Reactions to Hernandez's Death

After learning about Hernandez’s death, Gough’s father, Jorge Gough, said:

“That was very shocking for us. We were not expecting that at all. We’ve been hurt. We don’t want to see anyone die or hurt like that. Even though we went through what we went through, we were not happy to hear that Michael Hernandez was dead in jail.”

An investigator who worked the case was not as sympathetic as Gough’s parents.

“He was an evil evil person who showed no remorse,” said retired Miami-Dade prosecutor Gail Levine, who oversaw Hernandez’s sentencing hearing. “Finally, justice was completed.”

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