The dead body of a missing 13-year-old girl has been found with signs of sexual abuse on wasteground in Mexico’s worst state for femicides and crimes against women.
Lourdes Manon disappeared from her home in the municipality of Zumpango in the Mexican state of Mexico on 30th January.
The victim’s mother tried to find her before reporting her daughter’s disappearance later the same day.
However, the girl’s body was found on a vacant lot with signs of physical and sexual violence several days later.
The victim’s family accused the local authorities of negligence during a press conference, claiming that they refused to open an investigation until 3rd February.
After finding the girl’s body, the police arrested Luis (surname not reported due to strict local privacy laws) as the prime suspect on 4th February.
According to reports, the suspect was seen pushing the victim into a van in CCTV footage, and a video on his mobile phone allegedly incriminates him in the alleged femicide.
Spanish newspaper El Pais said the girl’s family and feminist groups are concerned the suspect could be released because he is the son of a local police officer.
The investigation is ongoing.
Mexico State registered the most femicides in the country in 2021, with 110, according to El Pais.
In the same year, the state also came out highest for other crimes against women, such as kidnapping, extortion, family violence, and rape.
Over 3,000 women were murdered in Mexico last year, with domestic violence, budget cuts and the response to the COVID-19 pandemic blamed for the four percent increase.
