The remains of a priest who had gone missing were discovered wrapped in plastic and secured to a chair in a canal. Reverend Ernesto Baltazar Hernández Vilchis, aged 40, disappeared without a trace in Tultepec, situated just north of Mexico City, on October 27. His body was located in a drainage canal near the Felipe Ángeles International Airport.
Search and rescue teams conducted searches in the vicinity where the remains were located, despite being in an advanced state of decomposition. Following the recovery of the remains from the canal, forensic experts positively identified them as belonging to Rev. Vilchis.
According to Mexican network Telediario, the body was wrapped in black bags and attached to an armchair before being lodged in a small heap of earth within the canal. Rev. Vilchis had recently been assigned to the Tultepec area and was last seen in the town of Ampliación La Piedad. The Diocese overseeing his placement in the region reported his disappearance to the authorities.
Prior to his assignment in Tultepec, Rev. Vilchis had served in various churches. Authorities are conducting an investigation into his death and have pledged to apprehend the individuals responsible. Although the perpetrators remain unidentified, there have been instances of priests being targeted by cartels in Mexico, as seen in the recent discovery of another priest’s body in Guerrero.
The Catholic Multimedia Centre, which monitors attacks on priests, reported that 10 priests were killed in Mexico between 2019 and 2024. Instances of violence against public figures have been extensively documented in Mexico. Earlier this month, Mayor Carlos Manzo, aged 40, from Uruapan, was fatally shot by two armed assailants while celebrating the Day of the Dead with the public. Mayor Manzo was known for his outspoken stance against cartels, advocating for strong measures to combat criminal networks in the avocado-growing region.
President Sheinbaum strongly condemned the assassination of Mayor Manzo, expressing condolences to his family, loved ones, and the people of Uruapan for their loss.