Tragedy in Jalisco: Activists Killed After Exposing Secret Mass Grave Site

Two Mexican activists, María del Carmen Morales, 43, and her 26-year-old son, Jaime Daniel Ramírez Morales, were murdered in Jalisco on Wednesday, authorities confirmed. Both were known for their dedication to the rights of missing persons, working through the group Warrior Searchers of Jalisco. Earlier this year, their organization uncovered the Izaguirre ranch, a chilling site containing clandestine crematoriums and human remains, believed to have been operated by organized crime.

The Warrior Searchers described the location as an “extermination camp” where criminals allegedly trapped and imprisoned unsuspecting recruits. However, Mexican officials have avoided using this term when discussing the ranch. Following their discovery in March, concerns about the dangers faced by activists in Mexico have only grown, highlighting the risks for those who dare to confront organized crime.

According to a statement from the Jalisco Attorney’s Office, the murders are not officially linked to the victims’ activism, though the investigation remains open. Denis Rodríguez, a spokesperson for the office, emphasized that "all avenues must be exhausted" before drawing conclusions. Authorities stated that the assailants, two men on a motorcycle, attacked Jaime Daniel late on April 23, and María del Carmen was fatally wounded while trying to defend her son.

Although the government’s statement did not name the victims, Warrior Searchers of Jalisco later confirmed the identities. María del Carmen had already suffered personal loss, as her other son, Ernesto Julián Ramírez Morales, had gone missing in February 2024 in Las Villas de Tlajomulco. Her tireless search for justice brought her into dangerous territory, eventually leading to her tragic end.

During her Friday morning briefing, President Claudia Sheinbaum addressed the murders, announcing that the Undersecretary for Human Rights would assist the Morales family. She stressed the importance of a thorough investigation, warning against any premature conclusions that the deaths were unrelated to their activism. “There must be a complete and serious investigation,” Sheinbaum insisted.

Sadly, this is not an isolated incident. Less than a month earlier, another activist, Teresa González, died after being shot during an attempted kidnapping. González had been searching for her missing brother in Guadalajara, one of Mexico’s most affected cities by disappearances. Her death, like that of María and Jaime Daniel, underscores the deadly risks faced by families fighting to uncover the truth.