MEXICO CITY (AP) — Mexican authorities are working diligently to identify four bodies discovered on the outskirts of Mexico City. This discovery is part of the ongoing search efforts for a married couple, Zafar Padamese Mawani and Guillermo Jafett Hidalgo Ortiz, who vanished in May. The couple had been living between Chicago and Mexico City, and their disappearance has raised significant concern.
An official from the State of Mexico prosecutor's office, who requested anonymity due to lack of authorization to speak publicly, stated that these bodies were found in response to a request from investigators in Mexico City. The prosecutors in the capital are investigating the disappearance of Mawani and Hidalgo Ortiz, having already made some arrests linked to the case.
Mawani and Hidalgo Ortiz, both aged 56, were in Mexico to care for Mawani's mother. According to reports from NBC News Chicago in late May, there were reportedly unusual withdrawals from the couple's bank accounts prior to their disappearance, further deepening concerns among their loved ones. Mawani is identified as a U.S. citizen in the federal government's missing-person bulletin, while Hidalgo Ortiz's nationality is not specified. However, it is noted that he was last seen with Mawani when they went missing in southern Mexico City, approximately 50 kilometers (31 miles) east of La Marquesa National Park.
Details about the case remain scarce, as the Mexico City prosecutors have not released substantial information. The U.S. Embassy in Mexico acknowledged the situation in a brief message to the Associated Press but did not disclose additional details. Mawani's family has been proactive, sending representatives to Mexico City to collaborate with authorities in the search for the couple.
The issue of missing individuals in Mexico is a grave concern, with over 135,000 people reported missing due to criminal violence, according to the latest federal data. Notably, the number of missing individuals continues to rise even in the context of a decline in homicide rates since President Claudia Sheinbaum took office in 2024. Recent statistics show that 977 people were reported missing in Mexico during May, reflecting the ongoing crisis of disappearances.
In recent days, family groups of missing persons have staged protests demanding more attention and resources dedicated to search efforts, coinciding with Mexico's role as co-host of the FIFA World Cup. One common criticism among these families is that authorities tend to respond more rapidly in cases involving foreign nationals, highlighting ongoing disparities in the treatment of cases based on nationality.
As the investigation into Mawani and Hidalgo Ortiz's disappearance progresses, the plight of missing persons in Mexico remains a pressing issue, calling for urgent attention from both local and international communities.
