José Leonardo Hernández Ganem was born in Puebla, Mexico and moved to Mexico City at age 15 to attend a military school. He became an officer in the Mexican Army at age 19 and lived in several cities throughout his career, including Muzquiz, Coahuila where he met his wife. They had two daughters and moved frequently for his job in the police and military, residing in places such as Puebla, Zamora Michoacan, Chihuahua, Culiacan, Tenancingo, Escarcega, Mexico City, Torreon, and Tuxtla Gutierrez before moving again to Mexico City.