Gruesome Murder of 25-Year-Old Woman Sparks Protest in Mexico

The latest case in the string of femicide in Mexico has sparked protests in the city on Friday.

Hundreds of people gathered in protest on Friday after a 25-year-old woman names Ingrid Escamilla was brutally murdered and mutilated by a man she lived with.

Escamilla was found dead on Sunday when police entered her residence. She was stabbed, disemboweled, and partially skinned. A 46-year-old man was covered in blood when he was arrested at the scene.

A Mexican media shared a video where Escamilla's husband can be heard admitting to his crime, claiming an argument over his drinking habits as his reason for stabbing the victim. He also admitted he attempted to hide evidence by skinning her and trying to dispose of her organs in drainage.

Local media outlets sparked an uproar throughout the country after they publishing leaked photographs showing Escamilla's mutilated body on their front pages. The photos of her remains were widely shared on social media.

Many social media users posted "beautiful" images using hashtags bearing Escamilla's name to bury crime scene photos leaked by national newspapers.

Over 200 protesters, comprised mostly of women, painted the words "femicide state' in red on Mexico's presidential state. Other protestors painted "Ingrid" and slogans on the doors and walls of the presidential palace.

Protestors are calling President Obrador for better reforms.

"It seems to me the president has evaded the issue constantly," a protester told Reuters news agency.

During his morning news conference, the president addressed the issue saying, "I'm not burying my head in the sand ... The government I represent will always take care of ensuring the safety of women."

They also marched on to newspaper La Prensa's office to protest its publication of the graphic images of the murder victim. At least one vehicle belonging to the newspaper company was set on fire. Security forces prevented them from entering the office building.

La Prensa has stood by its decision to publish the photos on its front page. They did state they are open to discussions about adjusting its editorial standards.

The march started at the Metrobus station of Gustavo A. Madero and ended at the victim's residence and place of death.

The United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women, also known as UN Women, demanded actions to eliminate violence against women and girls. They also demanded full access for all, saying Escamilla's case "is not an isolated case."

Femicide

Ingrid Escamilla's death is the latest in the rising number of femicide in Mexico. Femicide is the gender-based killing of women.

An average of 12 women is killed every day in Latin America, with 700 cases of femicide still under investigation.

Over 1,006 cases of femicide were reported in 2019, surpassing the number of cases reported in 2018 by 688.

Femicide has increased 137 percent in the last five years, Mexico's Attorney General Alejandro Gertz said. In 2019 alone, the lives of 3,825 women were lost.

A majority of femicide cases are never solved, with only a small percentage of culprits being brought to justice.