The shocking case of 28-year-old Lorena Jacqueline Morales — a León, Guanajuato woman who was murdered, then dismembered — has sparked outrage and fear. Her story draws attention to the increasingly widespread phenomenon of femicides throughout Mexico. Morales, an employee of a local food market, was last seen on May 14 and her family reported her missing nine days later. Her remains were found June 3, stuffed in a suitcase — triggering an investigation that continues to draw national attention.
The Guanajuato Prosecutor’s Office published an increased photo of Morales as part of a campaign to draw attention to her case. The coroner’s investigation quickly turned to the source of her toxicity—the pathology lab’s director and her former boss. He was arrested later the same day Morales’ body was found. Surveillance footage became the key evidence against him. Her video continued to record as the suspect entered an apartment building and climbed a series of stairs while carrying the covered object that authorities believe contained Morales’ body.
Guanajuato Governor Libia Dennise García Muñoz has urged for the investigation of Morales’ murder, classifying it as a femicide. The classification underscores the chilling escalation of violence against women in Mexico. Last year, federal authorities recorded 847 femicides around the nation. We applaud the governor’s statement for recognizing that systemic change is needed in order to directly address and fight this violence.
Morales’ tragic death resonates as a rallying cry to the community and the entire nation. It sheds life-saving light on the stark reality of safety and lack of protection women face. It has sparked widespread protests by citizens advocating for justice and increased accountability from law enforcement in cases of gender-based violence.
The circumstances leading up to Morales’ disappearance and murder are representative of an increasing trend that women in Mexico are facing today. The dramatic rise in femicides has spurred a national mobilization, protest and outcry. Citizens are calling for immediate and common sense reform to stop these senseless tragedies from continuing unabated.
