The body of a priest who had gone missing was discovered wrapped in plastic and secured to a chair in a canal. Reverend Ernesto Baltazar Hernández Vilchis, aged 40, disappeared in Tultepec, located north of Mexico City, on October 27. His remains were located in a drainage canal near the Felipe Ángeles International Airport.
Rescue teams conducted searches in the vicinity where the remains were found, but they were significantly decomposed. Following the recovery of the remains from the canal, forensic experts officially identified them as belonging to Rev. Vilchis.
According to the Mexican network Telediario, the body was encased in black bags and fastened to an armchair, ultimately becoming lodged in a small mound of earth within the canal. Rev. Vilchis had recently been assigned to Tultepec and was last seen in the town of Ampliación La Piedad. The Diocese responsible for his placement in the area had reported his disappearance to authorities.
Prior to his assignment in Tultepec, Rev. Vilchis had served in several churches. Authorities are currently investigating his death and have committed to capturing those accountable. While the culprits remain unidentified, it has been documented that priests have been targeted by cartels in Mexico. Notably, the body of another priest was found in Guerrero last month.
The Catholic Multimedia Centre, which monitors assaults on priests, reported that ten priests were killed in Mexico from 2019 to 2024. Instances of violence against public figures in Mexico have been well-documented. In a recent incident, Mayor Carlos Manzo, aged 40, of Uruapan, was fatally shot by two gunmen during a public celebration of the Day of the Dead. Mayor Manzo was known for his outspoken stand against cartels, advocating for forceful actions against criminal organizations in the region.
Following Mayor Manzo’s assassination, President Sheinbaum strongly condemned the act, offering condolences to the mayor’s family and the people of Uruapan for their loss. The President emphasized the need to address the escalating violence in the region.