A low-income woman borrowed money. The creditors demanded payment, and when they did not receive it, they took her 5-year-old son. A week later, authorities found the child dead, in another case of the growing wave of homicides gripping Mexico.
The State of Mexico's Attorney General's Office reported that two women and a man from the same family were arrested and on Thursday were placed in prison "for their probable involvement in crimes related to the disappearance" of the child, as reported by Ap.
According to the local prosecutor's office statement, on July 28, two women went to the child's mother's home allegedly to "collect an economic debt", and since she did not have the money to pay it off, they took the child and told her they would not return him until she made the payment.
Subsequently, the mother reportedly went to these people's home on different occasions to see her son, but as she was not allowed, she reported the case.
Videos on social media showed a small group of people protesting outside the prosecutor's office with signs and shouts of "Children are off-limits," trying to pressure the authorities.
The violence does not stop in the North American country. According to official figures, homicides saw an increase in 2024, reaching a rate of 25.6 per 100,000 inhabitants, breaking the downward trend of recent years.
According to the prosecutor's office, the report about the child was filed on Monday, the same day the police arrived at the home where the child had been taken. The officers found him dead, although his alleged attackers tried to hide the body.
Local media reported that the debt was equivalent to about $50, but authorities only mentioned that the economic situation of both families was very limited.