|
Detainees later told authorities where to search for the bodies,
leading Mexican prosecutors to uncover four unidentified bodies
in the mountains.
On Wednesday, the family of Mawani said Mexican authorities
confirmed their loved ones had died, and remembered them in an
outpouring of grief.
“We are grateful beyond words to everyone who tried to help
bring Zafar home to us – investigators on the ground, our core
strategy and support team, authorities in both countries,
generous volunteer organizations, as well as friends and loved
ones who stepped forward to help without being asked,” the
family wrote in a statement.
Mawani and Hidalgo Ortiz lived in Chicago and Mexico City,
according to Cate Taylor, a spokesperson for Mawani’s family.
NBC News Chicago reported in late May that the men were spending
time in Mexico to care for Mawani’s mother. The outlet also
reported unusual withdrawals from the couple’s bank accounts.
According to the federal government’s official missing-person
bulletin, Mawani was 56 and a U.S. citizen. The bulletin for
Hidalgo Ortiz, issued by Mexico City authorities, states that he
was also 56. It does not specify his nationality, but notes that
he was with Mawani when they disappeared south of Mexico City,
about 50 kilometers (31 miles) east of the mountains of La
Marquesa National Park.
More than 135,000 people are missing in Mexico as a product of
criminal violence, according to the most recent federal data.
The number missing continues to climb even as homicide figures
have sharply dropped since President Claudia Sheinbaum took
office in 2024.
A total of 977 people were reported missing in Mexico during the
month of May, according to the country’s official missing
persons registry.
In recent days, relatives’ groups have staged protests while
Mexico serves as a co-host of the FIFA World Cup. They are
demanding greater attention to the issue and more resources for
searches, which are generally led by family members themselves.
One of their recurring complaints is that authorities act more
quickly when the missing people are foreigners.
All contents © copyright 2026 Associated Press. All rights
reserved |
|
