In a tragic incident underscoring the perils faced by families searching for missing loved ones in Mexico, María del Carmen Morales, 43, and her 26-year-old son, Jaime Daniel Ramírez Morales, were shot and killed near their home in Tlajomulco, Jalisco, on April 23. They had been actively searching for another of María’s sons, Ernesto, who disappeared in February 2024.
María was a member of the Guerreros Buscadores collective, a group dedicated to locating missing persons. In March, the group made headlines after discovering bones, shoes, and clothing at a suspected cartel training camp in Teuchitlán, Jalisco, believed to be linked to the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG).
According to the Jalisco state prosecutor’s office, the attack occurred near midnight when two assailants on a motorcycle opened fire on Jaime. María was shot while trying to protect her son.
Authorities have arrested two suspects, identified as Juan Manuel N., 27, and José Luis N., 24, who are also suspected of involvement in a dozen other killings.
President Claudia Sheinbaum has called for a thorough investigation into the murders, emphasizing the need to determine whether María’s activism was a motive . The Guerreros Buscadores collective has demanded justice and greater protection for those searching for missing relatives.
This incident highlights the dangers faced by families and activists in Mexico, where over 120,000 people are officially reported as missing.