Journalist Enrique Hernández Avilés Found Dead in Mexico After Two Months Missing

September 06, 2024 – Mexico –

Mexican journalist Enrique Hernández Avilés, who disappeared on June 20, 2024, in Taxco, Guerrero, was found dead over two months later in a clandestine grave near the area of his disappearance. His body was recovered on August 31, prompting widespread condemnation from press freedom organizations and international institutions, including UNESCO and the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ).

Hernández Avilés, 55, was a seasoned reporter for the local magazine Contacto Policiaco, where he covered crime and public safety—subjects that often place journalists at serious risk in Mexico. His disappearance sparked concern among his family and press organizations, especially given Guerrero’s history of violence against media workers. Authorities eventually located his remains with the help of local searches, though the details of how he was killed remain under investigation.

UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay strongly condemned the killing, calling on Mexican authorities to conduct a thorough and transparent investigation. The IFJ and the National Union of Press Writers (SNRP) echoed that call, stressing the urgency of identifying and prosecuting those responsible. Both organizations criticized the broader pattern of impunity that surrounds attacks on journalists in Mexico, where over 100 have been killed since 2000, and few cases have led to convictions.

Adding to the concern is the involvement of local law enforcement. Reports suggest that municipal police in Taxco are under investigation for possible links to Hernández Avilés’s disappearance and death, deepening fears of institutional complicity and corruption.

Mexico remains one of the world’s most dangerous countries for journalists, especially those covering organized crime, corruption, and public security. Guerrero, where Hernández worked, is considered a hotspot for violence due to the presence of armed criminal groups and weak law enforcement oversight.

Press freedom groups continue to urge the Mexican government to ensure the safety of journalists and to dismantle the culture of impunity that allows such killings to occur. Hernández Avilés’s death is a grim reminder that journalists in Mexico are often targeted simply for doing their job—and that justice remains elusive for far too many.

Reference – 

https://www.unesco.org/en/articles/unesco-director-general-condemns-killing-journalist-enrique-hernandez-aviles-mexico#:~:text=Enrique%20Hern%C3%A1ndez%20Avil%C3%A9s%20was%20a,in%20Taxco%20on%2031%20August.

https://ground.news/article/taxco-municipal-police-investigated-for-disappearance-and-death-of-journalist

Mexico: Journalist Enrique Hernández Avilés found dead – IFJ