The lifeless body of a priest who had been missing was discovered wrapped in plastic and secured to a chair in a canal.
Reverend Ernesto Baltazar Hernández Vilchis, aged 40, disappeared mysteriously in Tultepec, a town just north of Mexico City, on October 27. His remains were located in a drainage canal near Felipe Ángeles International Airport on a recent Wednesday.
Teams involved in search and rescue operations combed the area where the remains were found, although they were described as significantly decomposed. Forensic experts confirmed the identity of Rev. Vilchis after retrieving the remains from the canal.
According to Mexican media outlet Telediario, the body was wrapped in black bags and then fastened to a chair before becoming lodged in a small mound of earth within the canal.
Rev. Vilchis had been newly appointed to serve in the Tultepec region and was last seen in the town of Ampliación La Piedad. Following his disappearance, the Diocese overseeing his assignment alerted the authorities.
Prior to his tenure in Tultepec, Rev. Vilchis had worked in various churches. Authorities are conducting a thorough investigation into his death and have pledged to apprehend those responsible.
Although the culprits remain unidentified, it is not uncommon for priests to be targeted by criminal organizations in Mexico. Recently, another priest’s body was discovered in the mountains of Guerrero, a southern state in Mexico.
The Catholic Multimedia Centre, which monitors attacks on priests, reported that ten priests were killed in Mexico between 2019 and 2024. Incidents of violence against public figures have been well-documented in the country.
In a separate incident earlier in the month, Mayor Carlos Manzo of Uruapan was fatally shot by two armed individuals while celebrating the Day of the Dead with the public. The outspoken mayor was known for his strong stance against criminal cartels.
Manzo had advocated for using force against cartel members, even suggesting violent means to combat criminal activities in the region known for avocado cultivation.
Mexican President Sheinbaum condemned Mayor Manzo’s assassination, offering heartfelt condolences to his family, loved ones, and the people of Uruapan for their loss.