Police seek Cleon Brown, estranged boyfriend of Elizabeth Hernandez

Police were still searching Friday morning for the estranged boyfriend of a Shirley woman who was found dead in her basement apartment Wednesday afternoon.

Suffolk County police want to question Cleon Brown, 37, who had an order of protection against him having any contact with the victim, Elizabeth Hernandez, 33. Hernandez was found Wednesday at about 12:30 p.m. with what appeared to be an injury to her torso, police said. Officials from the Suffolk County medical examiner's office are working to determine the cause of death.

Brown had been arrested after violating the order, said a police spokeswoman. According to documents, Brown has had brushes with the law.

In addition to pleading guilty to an August 2011 felony aggravated driving-while-intoxicated charge, Brown also pleaded guilty to three separate charges of criminal contempt: two in November 2011 and one in September 2012. In addition, Brown pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor menacing charge in September 2011.

Hernandez's aunt, Lisa Jimenez of Medford, said the family reported Elizabeth Hernandez missing on Saturday.

Jimenez said police told relatives "that she probably ran off" when they first reported Hernandez missing. Hernandez had two children, a 4-year-old son and a 7-year-old daughter.

Police confirmed Hernandez was reported missing Saturday but did not respond to other questions regarding the case. Police said earlier there was a history of domestic calls from her house but no details were available.

Homicide detectives are still investigating the circumstances surrounding her death and they are asking for the public's help.

Anyone with information can call Crime Stoppers at 800-220-TIPS or the Homicide Squad at 631-852-6396.

Thursday night, friends and family held a candlelight vigil in front of Hernandez's Auborn Avenue home. The vigil, held in the rain, was attended by about 20 people.

The crowd had candles, a teddy bear, balloons and a sign that said "You'll be missed."

The group said a prayer, and one man, who declined to be identified, told them, "This did not need to happen. This was wrong."

With John Valenti