Ecuadorian Reporter Xavier Ramos Stabbed to Death in His Guayaquil Apartment

August 22, 2025 – Ecuador – 

Journalist Xavier Ramos, an editor and correspondent for El Universo who also contributed to La Hora, was found dead in his apartment in the La Alborada neighborhood of northern Guayaquil on the evening of August 21, 2025. His body was discovered with multiple stab wounds—evidence of a violent attack likely committed with a knife or sharp implement—prompting immediate alarm among Ecuador’s journalism community.

Police Major Gino Sánchez confirmed Ramos’s identity and noted the severity of the injuries. The body was discovered after Ramos failed to report to work and ceased responding to phone calls, prompting family and friends to alert authorities. Investigators from the National Directorate of Crimes Against Life (DINASED) are currently examining the scene, with security footage and other leads being collected as part of an intensive criminal probe.

Ramos’s death marks the second journalist killing in Ecuador this year; in March, reporter Patricio Aguilar was murdered in Esmeraldas, reflecting an alarming trend of escalating threats against media workers. The killing has sparked widespread shock and condemnation from press associations and civil society, who are demanding swift and transparent justice.

The case emerges amid a broader context of rising violence, particularly in regions like Zona 8—which includes Guayaquil—where over 2,060 murders have been reported in 2025 so far. The deteriorating security landscape is linked in part to ongoing armed conflict with organized crime groups, as Ecuador continues to grapple with internal instability.

Ramos’s brutal demise echoes growing concerns about press safety in Ecuador, where journalists face risks ranging from intimidation and violence to murder. As the investigation progresses, the journalism community remains vigilant, calling for accountability and protection to prevent further attacks on media freedom.

Reference – 

https://ground.news/article/journalist-xavier-ramos-was-stabbed-to-death-within-his-department-in-guayaquil

Journalist found dead with stab wounds in home in Guayaquil, Ecuador